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samizdat Definition

sam·iz·dat (säm′iz dät)

noun

  1. a system by which manuscripts denied official publication in the Soviet Union were circulated clandestinely in typescript or in mimeograph form, or were smuggled out for publication abroad
  2. manuscripts distributed in this way

Etymology: Russ, lit., self-published < samo-, self (for IE base see same) + izdat', to publish < iz-, from, out of + dat', to give (see dacha)

samizdat Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • publication: All the best with the venture, but I'm afraid I'm passed writing for nothing for samizdat publications.
  • form: On the one hand, a number of hitherto banned books, circulating only in samizdat form, could be published in print.
  • literature: Within the Czech Republic, emphasis often seems to be placed on the primary importance of samizdat literature.
  • writer: Samizdat writers have the excuse of a paper shortage for omitting paragraph spacing.
  • text: It's perhaps worth noting that the books have never been samizdat texts in prep schools.

Browse dictionary entries near samizdat

  1. samite
  2. samisen
  3. sameness
  4. samekh
  5. same-sex
  6. same
  7. sambuca
  8. sambar
  9. sambal
  10. samba
  1. samlet
  2. Samnite
  3. Samnium
  4. Samoa
  5. Samoa Standard Time
  6. Samoan
  7. Samos
  8. samosa
  9. Samothrace
  10. samovar