Mordvin

Also Mord·vin·i·an

[mawrd-vin]

noun

1. a member of a Uralic people living in scattered communities in the middle Volga basin, especially between Nizhni Novgorod and Saratov.

2. the Finnic language of the Mordvin, with two major dialects, sometimes considered distinct languages.

Mordvin

/ ˈmɔːdvɪn /

noun

1. a member of a Finnish people of the middle Volga region, living chiefly in the Mordvinian Republic

2. the language of this people, belonging to the Finno-Ugric family

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mordvin¹

< Russian mordvín, derivative of the collective noun mordvá, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

The evidence of place names makes it probable that their present position is the result of their being driven northwards by the Mordvins and then southwards by the Russians.

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Marriages of brothers and sisters appear to have been allowed formerly amongst the Mordvin, in central Russia.

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A Mordvin bride must try to escape from the wagon on the way to the church.

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Describing the marriage customs of the Mordvins, Mainow says that the bridegroom sneaks into the bride's house before daybreak, seizes her and carries her off to where his companions are waiting with their wagons.

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Among the Mordvins, as soon as the suitor and his friends are seen approaching the bride's house, it is barricaded, and the defenders ask, "Who are you?"

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