polyglot

[ pol-ee-glot ]

adjective

1. able to speak or write several languages; multilingual.
2. containing, composed of, or written in several languages:

   a polyglot Bible.

noun

1. a mixture or confusion of languages.
2. a person who speaks, writes, or reads a number of languages.
3. a book, especially a Bible, containing the same text in several languages.

polyglot

/ ˈpɒlɪˌɡlɒt /

adjective

1. having a command of many languages
2. written in, composed of, or containing many languages

noun

1. a person with a command of many languages
2. a book, esp a Bible, containing several versions of the same text written in various languages
3. a mixture or confusion of languages

Derived Forms

• ˈpolyˌglotism, noun

Other Words From

• poly·glotism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyglot¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin polyglōttus, from Greek polýglōttos “many-tongued”; poly-, -glot

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyglot¹

C17: from Greek poluglōttos literally: many-tongued, from poly- + glōtta tongue

Example Sentences

Taken together, this ideologically polyglot effort added up to something quite effective.

From Slate

A polyglot and amateur opera singer, Zlokovic left USC and spent 11 years at the University of Rochester before returning in 2011.

From Los Angeles Times

For centuries, they were dutiful students of languages until the latter 1800s, when they flexed their polyglot powers and became internationally acclaimed merchants.

From Slate

This “Shogun” sits in a polyglot comfort zone.

From New York Times

Its architecture was a polyglot of building styles — kind of like Beverly Hills — but here’s the best part: It was noir, through and through.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• linguist
• wordsmith