Standard Lemma guide

stylite

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈstʌɪlʌɪt/
  • US: /ˈstaɪlaɪt/
  • Northern-California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A Christian ascetic in ancient times who lived alone on top of a tall pillar.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pillar-saint, pillarist

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an early Christian ascetic who lived on top of high pillars

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: abstainer, ascetic

History

Etymology

From Ecclesiastical Greek στυλίτης (stulítēs), from Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “pillar”).

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: стълпник (stǎlpnik) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Catalan: estilita — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Dutch: pilaarheilige — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Dutch: styliet — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Esperanto: kolonsanktulo — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Esperanto: kolonsanktulino — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Finnish: pylväspyhimys — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Finnish: styliitta — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • French: stylite — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • French: stylitesse — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • German: Säulenheiliger — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • German: Säulenheilige — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • German: Stylit — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • German: Stylitin — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Greek: στυλίτης (stylítis) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Greek: στυλίτισσα (stylítissa) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Ancient Greek: στῡλῑ́της (stūlī́tēs) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Ancient Greek: στῡλῑ́τῐσσᾰ (stūlī́tĭssă) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Italian: stilita — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Latin: stȳlītēs — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Latin: stȳlītissa — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Macedonian: столпник (stolpnik) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Polish: słupnik — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Polish: stylita — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Portuguese: estilita — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Portuguese: santo do pilar — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Portuguese: santa do pilar — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Romanian: stâlpnic — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Russian: сто́лпник (stólpnik) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Russian: сто́лпница (stólpnica) — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Sicilian: stilitu — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Sicilian: santu â culonna — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Spanish: estilita — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Swedish: stylit — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
  • Swedish: pelarhelgon — Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar