Definition
boyarisms
noun
- Plural of boyarism; the practices, customs, or characteristics associated with boyars (members of the old Russian aristocracy).
- Plural of boyarism; attitudes, behaviors, or social systems typical of or influenced by the boyar class.
Usage: historical; often used in academic or historical contexts discussing pre-Petrine Russia
Usage: historical; rare in modern usage
Examples
- Historians study the boyarisms of medieval Russia to understand the social hierarchy of that era.
- The novel depicts the decline of boyarisms as Peter the Great modernized the Russian state.
- Traditional boyarisms emphasized land ownership and military service to the tsar.
- Scholars debate how boyarisms influenced the development of Russian feudalism.