zemstvo

American  

[zemst-voh, zyem-stvuh] / ˈzɛmst voʊ, ˈzjɛm stvə /

noun

Russian History.

• zemstvos
  plural

1. one of a system of elected local assemblies established in 1864 by Alexander II to replace the authority of the nobles in administering local affairs after the abolition of serfdom: became the core of the liberal movement from 1905 to 1917.

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zemstvo British  

/ ˈzɛmstvəʊ, ˈzjɛmstvə /

noun

1. (in tsarist Russia) an elective provincial or district council established in most provinces of Russia by Alexander II in 1864 as part of his reform policy

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• zemstvos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of zemstvo

1860–65; < Russian zémstvo, derivative of zemlyá land, earth; see humus

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zemstvo zemstvos

One reason: officials, lest they appear to lack revolutionary fervor, stayed at their offices 24 hours a day, were consequently too sleepy to tell a kulak from a zemstvo.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lists of such works which came under the notice of the zemstvo statisticians will be found in V.V.'s Peasant Community, pp. 459-600.

From Mutual Aid; a factor of evolution by Petr Alekseevich Kropotkin, Prince

When I said that my father had been a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia I might have been calling him a voivode of Montenegro or the president of a zemstvo.

From The High Heart by Basil King

The assembly appointed an executive committee which is in permanent session, but the zemstvo assembles once a year.

From The Story of Russia by R. Van Bergen

The zemstvo of Saratov was one of the best in Russia.

From Bolshevism The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy by John Spargo

The imperial ukase of 1864, created zemstvos or district assemblies composed of representatives of the landed proprietors or gentlemen; or rural communes or mirs, and of the towns.

From The Story of Russia by R. Van Bergen

The newspapers and magazines of the zemstvos became more and more critical of the government, more and more outspoken in denunciation of existing conditions.

From Bolshevism The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy by John Spargo

Called by the Provisional Government, it comprised representatives of the Soviets, of parties, of organizations of the army, peasant organizations, co-operatives, zemstvos, agricultural committees, etc.

From Bolshevism The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy by John Spargo

The peasant representatives in the zemstvos were generally peasants of the most successful and prosperous type, hating the revolutionists and all their works.

From Bolshevism The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy by John Spargo

In the reorganization of the Cabinet, Shuvaviev, the War Minister, who had loyally co-operated with the zemstvos and had supported the Duma in November, was dismissed.

From Bolshevism The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy by John Spargo

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