Russia

(rus̸hə)

  1. former empire (1547-1917) in E Europe & N Asia, ruled by the czars: cap. St. Petersburg
  2. loosely the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
  3. Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, esp. the European part
  4. country in E Europe and N Asia, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific & from the Arctic Ocean to the Chinese border: formerly the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, established as a country in 1991 upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R.: 6,592,844 sq mi (17,075,400 sq km); pop. 148,022,000; cap. Moscow
    official name Russian Federation

Origin: < Russ Rus'

See Russia in American Heritage Dictionary 4

  1. A former empire of eastern Europe and northern Asia. Originally settled by Slavs from the third to the eighth century, the region was long a conglomerate of independent principalities until Moscow gained ascendancy in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. The empire achieved the height of its power and territorial influence under Peter the Great and Catherine the Great in the 17th and 18th centuries. The early 1800s were a period of reactionism, and although some liberal reforms were effected in the late 1800s, discontent remained and led directly to the Revolutions of 1905 and 1917, an internal power struggle, and the formation of the USSR in 1922.
  2. Officially Russian Federation  Formerly Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. A country of eastern Europe and northern Asia stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. It was proclaimed a republic in 1917 after the Russian Revolution, and as a constituent republic of the USSR (1922-1991), it constituted 75 percent of the country's total land area. In 1990 Boris Yeltsin became president of the Russian republic, and in 1991 he was reelected to the position in the republic's first popular election. When the Soviet Union disintegrated later that year, Yeltsin took control of the central government, and with Belarus and Ukraine, Russia formed (December 1991) the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was then joined by most of the other breakaway Soviet republics. In March 1992 Russia signed a treaty with most of the remaining Soviet republics, establishing the Russian Federation. Moscow is the capital. Population: 141,000,000.
  3. See Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

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Russia

See Russia in Ologies

Russia

See also communism.

Decembrist

one of those who conspired to overthrow Russian Czar Nicholas I in December, 1825. Also Dekebrist.

Kremlinology

study of the policies, doctrines, programs, etc., of the government of the Soviet Union. —Kremlinologist, n.

Russianism

something characteristic of or influenced by Russia, its people, customs, language, etc.

Russomania

an obsession with Russia and things Russian.

Russophilism

great fondness for or interest in Russia, its people, customs, language, art, etc. — Russophile, n., adj.

Russophobism

Russophobia.

Slavicist

one who specializes in the study of Slavic languages, literatures, or other aspects of Slavic culture. Also Slavist.

Slavophilism

enthusiasm for or admiration of things Slavic, as Slavic literature, language, culture, customs, etc. —Slavophil, Slavophile, n., adj.

Slavophobia

fear or hatred of things Slavic, especially of real or imagined Soviet political influence. —Slavophobe, n. —Slavophobic, adj.

sovietism, sovietism

1. the soviet system of government and the principles and practices of such a government.

2. a policy, action, etc., typical of the Soviet Union. —Sovietist, sovietist, n., adj.

Sovietology

study of the Soviet Union, especially its government, policies, etc. —Sovietologist, n.

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