Slav

¹ American  

[slahv, slav] / slɑv, slæv /

noun

1. one of a group of peoples in eastern, southeastern, and central Europe, including the Russians and Ruthenians Eastern Slavs, the Bulgars, Serbs, Croats, Slavonians, Slovenians, etc. Southern Slavs, and the Poles, Czechs, Moravians, Slovaks, etc. Western Slavs.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Slavs; Slavic.

Slav ² American  

Or Slav.

abbreviation

1. Slavic.

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Slav British  

/ slɑːv /

noun

1. a member of any of the peoples of E Europe or NW Asia who speak a Slavonic language

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Etymology

Origin of Slav

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin Slāvus, variant of Sclāvus, akin to Late Greek Sklábos, from a Slavic ethnonym, perhaps originally a name for all Slavic tribes (compare Old Russian Slověně, an East Slavic tribe); replacing Middle English Sclave, from Medieval Latin Sclāvus; Slovak, Slovenian, slave ( def. )

Example Sentences

After Christianity came to Slav lands in the 9th and 10th Century, Kyiv had its own Metropolitanate but it was subordinated to Russia's Church in 1685 under Tsar Peter the Great.

From Reuters • Jan. 5, 2023

“The global financial architecture is just not wired to give countries meaningful credit for positive nature investments,” said Slav Gatchev, the head of the Nature Conservancy’s sustainable debt division.

From New York Times • Nov. 7, 2022

In the one decisive game of the four-game rapid bout, Carlsen’s QGD Slav seems to go awry early on against Ding, as after 14.

From Washington Times • May 31, 2022

Working with Icelandic poet Sjón to write the script, they wrote one part, Olga — an enslaved Slav who becomes a close confident of Amleth — with Taylor-Joy in mind.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 20, 2022

Ruthenian, rōō-thē′ni-an, adj. of or pertaining to the Ruthenians, a branch of the little Russian division of the Slav race, on both sides of the Carpathians.—n. one of this race.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various