Rasputin

[ ra-spyoo-tin, -tn; Russian ruh-spoo-tyin ]

noun
  1. Gri·go·ri E·fi·mo·vich [gri-gawr-ee i-fee-muh-vich; Russian gryi-gaw-ryee yi-fyee-muh-vyich], /grɪˈgɔr i ɪˈfi mə vɪtʃ; Russian gryɪˈgɔ ryi yɪˈfyi mə vyɪtʃ/, c1871–1916, Siberian peasant monk who was very influential at the court of Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra.

  2. any person who exercises great but insidious influence.

Words Nearby Rasputin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Rasputin in a sentence

  • The German influence at Court scares them, and there is, besides, the mysterious Rasputin to contend with!

  • Rasputin's figure is one of those mysterious ones round which every sort of rumour gathers.

  • Instead of appointing better ministers, he appointed worse ones, suggested by Rasputin.

    Lest We Forget | John Gilbert Thompson
  • It is said that Rasputin had one of his friends serving as physician to the Tsar and that he kept Nicholas drugged.

    Lest We Forget | John Gilbert Thompson
  • Both were in uniform, and after ushering them into Rasputin's study I felt that some dark conspiracy was on foot.

    The Minister of Evil | William Le Queux

British Dictionary definitions for Rasputin

Rasputin

/ (ræˈspjuːtɪn, Russian rasˈputin) /


noun
  1. Grigori Efimovich (ɡriˈɡɔrij jɪˈfiməvitʃ). ?1871–1916, Siberian peasant monk, notorious for his debauchery, who wielded great influence over Tsarina Alexandra. He was assassinated by a group of Russian noblemen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012