boyar

American  

[boh-yahr, boi-er] / boʊˈyɑr, ˈbɔɪ ər /

Also boyard

noun

1. Russian History. a member of the old nobility of Russia, before Peter the Great made rank dependent on state service.

2. a member of a former privileged class in Romania.

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boyar British  

/ ˈbɔɪə, ˈbəʊjɑː /

noun

1. a member of an old order of Russian nobility, ranking immediately below the princes: abolished by Peter the Great

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Other Word Forms

• boyardism noun
• boyarism noun

Etymology

Origin of boyar

First recorded in 1585–95; earlier boiaren, from Russian boyárin, akin to Old Church Slavonic bolyarinŭ (translating Greek megistán “man of high status”), Bulgarian bolyár(in); further origin uncertain

Explanation

A boyar was an Eastern European noble who served under a prince. Russian boyars were leaders in government and the military, as well as acting as advisors to the prince. As members of the aristocracy and wealthy landowners, boyars had considerable power and status in the ruling nobility. They were second in the royal hierarchy, just under the prince or the tsar, in Bulgaria, Russia, and several other Slavic countries from the tenth to 17th centuries. In Russia, the position was eliminated by Peter the Great in the 1600s. Boyar is from a Slavic root, bol-, or "great."

Example Sentences

The event was in 1903, but the silver brocade outfit is in 17th-century boyar style.

From Washington Post • May 25, 2016

He fears that Carfin — accused of robbing the boyar and seducing his wife — will be unfairly punished if he's returned to his master.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2016

Assuring everyone that he can persuade the boyar to be reasonable, Costandin is able to ignore the slaves' pleas to be released from his custody.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2016

He also married the beautiful Anastasia, related to an old boyar family, the Romanovs.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2012

This he afterwards explained by saying that to a boyar the pride of his house and name is his own pride, that their glory is his glory, that their fate is his fate.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker