Ruthenian

noun

Ru·​the·​ni·​an

-nēən

plural -s

1

a

: a member of a branch of the Ukrainians formerly chiefly of Galicia in Austria and the eastern part of Czechoslovakia

b

: the Ukrainian language as used in Galicia

2

: a member of a former Eastern Orthodox body entering into communion with Rome at the end of the 16th century and becoming the Uniate Church of the Ukrainians

Ruthenian adjective

Word History

Etymology

Ruthenia, a part of the Ukraine + English -an

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Rhymes for Ruthenian

• armenian
• sardinian
• slovenian
• tyrrhenian
• fenian
• magdalenian