Langimage
English

babylonite

|ba-by-lo-nite|

C2

/ˌbæbəˈlaɪnaɪt/

person of or associated with Babylon

Etymology
Etymology Information

'babylonite' originates from English, specifically formed from the place-name 'Babylon' plus the suffix '-ite' (from Greek/Latin via English), where 'Babylon' ultimately comes from Akkadian 'Bābili' meaning 'gate of god'. 『babylonite』は英語に由来し、地名『Babylon』と接尾辞『-ite』(ギリシャ語/ラテン語を経て英語に入った)から形成されており、『Babylon』は最終的にアッカド語の『Bābili(神の門)』に由来します。

Historical Evolution

'Babylon' came into English via Greek 'Babylōn' and Latin 'Babylon' from Akkadian 'Bābili'; the English formation 'babylonite' was created by adding the productive English suffix '-ite' to denote an inhabitant or follower, producing the modern English word 'babylonite'. 『Babylon』はギリシャ語の『Babylōn』、ラテン語の『Babylon』を経て英語に入り、居住者・支持者を示す生産的な接尾辞『-ite』を付けることで現代英語の『babylonite』が形成されました。

Meaning Changes

Initially, the element referred specifically to an inhabitant of Babylon; over time the term 'babylonite' (like related forms) came also to be used figuratively for people associated with Babylonian characteristics — especially in literature and religious texts where 'Babylon' symbolizes decadence — yielding the current senses of 'native of Babylon' and the pejorative/figurative sense. 当初はバビロンの居住者を指す語でしたが、時とともに文献や宗教的文脈で『バビロン』が堕落の象徴として用いられるようになり、『babylonite』はバビロンの特性に結び付けられた人(軽蔑的な比喩)を指す用法も生じ、現代の複数の意味に至っています。

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a native or inhabitant of the ancient city of Babylon.

The Babylonite priests recorded celestial events on clay tablets.

Synonyms

Noun 2

figuratively, a person associated with or sympathetic to the ways of Babylon — often used pejoratively to imply decadence, materialism, or moral corruption.

Critics denounced the city's rulers as babylonites, blaming them for luxury and excess.

Synonyms

Babyloniandecadent (figurative)

Last updated: 2025/12/23 15:56