Lithuania

[ lith-oo-ey-nee-uh ]

noun

1. a republic in N Europe, on the Baltic: an independent state 1918–40; annexed by the Soviet Union 1940; regained independence 1991. 25,174 sq. mi. (65,200 sq. km). : Vilnius.

Lithuania

/ ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪə /

noun

1. a republic in NE Europe, on the Baltic Sea: a grand duchy in medieval times; united with Poland in 1569; occupied by Russia in 1795 and by Germany during World War I; independent Lithuania formed in 1918, but occupied by Soviet troops in 1919 and then by Poland; became a Soviet republic in 1940; unilaterally declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990; recognized as independent in 1991; joined the EU in 2004. Official language: Lithuanian. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: litas. Capital: Vilnius. Pop: 3 515 858 (2013 est). Area: 65 200 sq km (25 174 sq miles) Also calledLithuanian Republic Lithuanian nameLietuva

Lithuania

1. Republic on the Baltic Sea , bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and southeast, Poland to the south, and by an isolated segment of Russia to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is Vilnius.

Notes

Occupied by German forces during World War II , at which time thousands of Lithuanian Jews (see also Jews ) were exterminated.

As the communist system began to collapse and the Soviet Union began to dissolve, Lithuania became the first of the Baltic republics to reject Soviet rule, declaring its independence in March 1990.

Lithuania was one of the largest and most powerful states in Europe from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, at which time it merged with Poland. In the late eighteenth century, it was absorbed by Russia. A nationalist movement that grew in strength throughout the nineteenth century finally bore fruit when the Russian empire collapsed during World War I . Lithuanians achieved their desired goal of an independent state during the interwar years, but their country was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, as were the neighboring countries of Estonia and Latvia .

Other Words From

• Lith·u·an·ic [lith-oo-, an, -ik], adjective noun

Example Sentences

He conducted a 24-year-long war against Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, and the Teutonic Knights, and lost.

From The Daily Beast

Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine have revived a plan to form a joint battle group.

From The Daily Beast

To Eastern Europe to reassure leaders of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia that U.S. is committed to their defense.

From The Daily Beast

The Pahonia, emblem of the Belarusian nation drawn from the insignia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is banned under Lukashenko.

From The Daily Beast

In Poland, Lithuania, and Romania, the CIA operated secret prisons, according to the investigation.

From The Daily Beast

The teachers are ignorant, illiterate spinsters from Lithuania who have studied here two or three years.

From Project Gutenberg

It contains from the pen of the editor a work of great value, "Lithuania under Witold," and a romance.

From Project Gutenberg

He had not, however, expected Mr. Seven Sachs to walk into the Lithuania's music-saloon an hour before the ship touched the quay.

From Project Gutenberg

And from that moment Edward Henry spent the whole secret force of his individuality in fervently desiring the Lithuania to start.

From Project Gutenberg

The Lithuania actually descended below five hundred and forty knots in the twenty-four hours.

From Project Gutenberg