Definition of "polyglot"

polyglot

/ˈpɒlɪɡlɒt/

adjective
not comparable
1. Of a person: speaking, or versed in, many languages; multilingual.
  Quotations
  '[T]is thought the two and twenty Languages which Mythrydates the great Polyglot King of Pontus did ſpeak, wer all within the circumference of Anatolia in regard his dominions extended but a little further: […]
  1630 August 4 (Gregorian calendar), James Howell, “LVIII. To the Right Hon. the E. R.”, in [Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ.] A New Volume of Familiar Letters, […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], published 1655, section, page 77
  For this flyaway son of a Phœnician did not seem to wait for the decision of the polyglot Judges of the Emigration Board.
  1910 January 12, Ameen Rihani, “On the Wharf of Enchantment”, in The Book of Khalid, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published October 1911, book the first (In the Exchange), page 38
2. Containing, or made up of, several languages; specifically, of a book (especially a bible): having text translated into several languages.
3. Comprising various (native) linguistic groups; multilingual.
noun
plural polyglots
1. A publication in several languages; specifically, a book (especially a bible) containing several versions of the same subject matter or text in several languages.
  Quotations
  [T]hose coming to the warehouses' doors fired them, and burned all the books and the pillars of the church, […] A great want thereof there will be of books, specially Latin books and foreign books; and, among others, the Polyglottes and new Bible, which he believes will be presently worth £40 a-piece.
  1666 October 15 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “October 5th, 1666”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VI, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1895, page 7
  But ſince that period the biblical apparatus has been much enriched by the publication of polyglots; […]
  1792, William Newcome, “Arguments Shewing that an Improved Version of the Bible is Expedient”, in An Historical View of the English Biblical Translations: The Expediency of Revising by Authority our Present Translation: And the Means of Executing Such a Revision, Dublin: […] John Exshaw, page 239
2. (also figuratively) One who has mastered (especially when able to speak) several languages.
  Quotations
  Laſtly, a polyg[l]ot or good linguiſt may alſo be term'd a uſefull learned man, ſpecially if vers'd in School-languages.
  c. 1646–1647, James Howell, “VIII. To the Right Honourable My Lord of D.”, in [Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ.] A Third Volume of Familiar Letters of a Fresher Date. […], 3rd edition, volume III, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], published 1655, section, page 15
3. (also figuratively) A mixture of languages or nomenclatures.
4. (computing)
  1. A file that can be interpreted validly as multiple formats.
    Quotations
    If you are interested in polyglot file formats, take a look at the polyglot web page in the Corkami wiki. There are various example polyglots, including a PDF file that is also a valid HTML file with JavaScript, as well as a valid Windows PE executable.
    2015, Joxean Koret, Elias Bachaalany, “Evading Scanners”, in The Antivirus Hacker’s Handbook, Indianapolis, Ind.: John Wiley & Sons, part II (Antivirus Software Evasion), page 148
  2. (programming) A program written to be valid in multiple programming languages.
5. (obsolete) A bird able to imitate the sounds of other birds.

Definition of "polyglot"

polyglot

adjective

Quotations

noun

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations