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soviet

an elected council in the former USSR; (Soviet) relating to the USSR

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Where does the word "soviet" come from? It comes from Russian sovet, and was adopted directly into English (1917).

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Where does the word "soviet" come from? It comes from Russian sovet, and was adopted directly into English (1917).

Soviet’s story begins in Russian: sovet meant “workers' council.” 'council, advice'; workers formed the St Petersburg Soviet of Workers' Deputies in the 1905 Revolution, with Leon Trotsky among its leaders. It reached English by 1917 as soviet. Entered English with the 1917 revolutions, when the Petrograd Soviet shared power with the Provisional Government; the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics followed in 1922. Today, soviet means an elected council in the former USSR; (Soviet) relating to the USSR.

  1. Stage 1 · Russian · 1905 sovet "workers' council", 'council, advice'; workers formed the St Petersburg Soviet of Workers' Deputies in the 1905 Revolution, with Leon Trotsky among its leaders.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1917 soviet "revolutionary council", entered English with the 1917 revolutions, when the Petrograd Soviet shared power with the Provisional Government; the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics followed in 1922.

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