Word Study
slav
CIDE DICTIONARY
slav, n. [A word originally meaning, intelligible, and used to contrast the people so called with foreigners who spoke languages unintelligible to the Slavs; akin to OSlav. slovo a word, slava fame, Skr. to hear. Cf. Loud.].
One of a race of people occupying a large part of Eastern and Northern Europe, including the Russians, Bulgarians, Roumanians, Servo-Croats, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Wends or Sorbs, Slovaks, etc. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
slav, n. & adj.
--n. a member of a group of peoples in Central and Eastern Europe speaking Slavonic languages.
--adj.
1 of or relating to the Slavs.
2 Slavonic.
--n. a member of a group of peoples in Central and Eastern Europe speaking Slavonic languages.
--adj.
1 of or relating to the Slavs.
2 Slavonic.
Derivative
Slavism n.
Etymology
ME Sclave f. med.L Sclavus, late Gk Sklabos, & f. med.L Slavus
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