Rasputin

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

/ ræˈspyu tɪn, -tn; Russian rʌˈspu tyɪn /

noun

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/, 1871–1916, Siberian peasant monk who was very influential at the court of Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra.

any person who exercises great but insidious influence.

Examples from the Web for rasputin

She spoke with Jane Ciabattari about playing with Russian history and the Rasputin myth.
Kathryn Harrison on Rasputin in New Novel 'Enchantments'|Jane Ciabattari|March 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Part of what Rasputin did for the royal family was healing their youngest.
Kathryn Harrison on Rasputin in New Novel 'Enchantments'|Jane Ciabattari|March 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The gossip of the time speculated that Rasputin was having sex with the tsarina and her daughters.
Kathryn Harrison on Rasputin in New Novel 'Enchantments'|Jane Ciabattari|March 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
"Of course I shall not," remarked Rasputin, with that crafty grin of his.
The Minister of Evil|William Le Queux

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
Rasputin was out with Azef, so Paula declared that she would wait till their return.
The Minister of Evil|William Le Queux
Further search revealed a human body, which proved to be the corpse of no less a person than the notorious monk Rasputin himself.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VI (of VIII)|Various
Whatever Trepov's motives might be in fighting Protopopov and Rasputin he was helping the opposition.
Bolshevism|John Spargo

British Dictionary definitions for rasputin

Rasputin

/ (ræˈspjuːtɪn, Russian rasˈputin) /

noun

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

Word Origin and History for rasputin

Rasputin

acquired name (Russian, literally "debauchee") of Grigory Yefimovich Novykh (c.1872-1916), mystic and faith healer who held sway over court of Nicholas II of Russia. His nickname is from his doctrine of "rebirth through sin," that true holy communion must be preceded by immersion in sin. His name used figuratively in English from 1937 for anyone felt to have an insidious and corrupting influence.

Rasputin

noun

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Examples from the Web for rasputin

Rasputin

noun

Rasputin