Pronunciations (2)
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/ɹuːs/
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/ɹʌs/
Proper noun
A people made up of Scandinavian warrior merchants who travelled Eastern European river-roads from the eighth century, and whose settlements around Novgorod, Kiev/Kyiv and the Volga and Dnieper/Dnipro gave rise to the Rus' principalities.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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In 860 the Rus’ streamed southwards and laid siege to Constantinople itself.
Kievan Rus, the medieval East Slavic state established by these same warrior merchants in the 9th century, whose capital was in Kiev.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Any of the medieval East Slavic principalities ruled by this class, especially Kievan Rus.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The nation of Russia, especially in a transcendent or romantic sense referring to the history and culture of the country.
Usage- Countable
- Poetic
- Uncountable
Noun
A person from Rus.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
And if a Rus hits a Greek, or a Greek a Rus with a sword, a spear or any other weapon, he shall pay five litres of silver for his offence, in accordance with Rus law; and if he be unable (insolvent—Author) his property shall be sold for the best price it fetches, including the very clothes . . .
If a Varangian claimed money from a Rus, or a Rus from a Varangian, and the debtor refused to pay, the plaintiff, accompanied by twelve witnesses, . . .
More examples (1)
The Church of Kievan Rus knew men well-versed in Scripture and apparently other learning of the time, such as the Metropolitans Ioann II (d. 1089) and Klimetn Smoliatich (twelfth century). The former was Greek, and the latter a Rus.