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Glite Dictionary
Ivan the Great

Ivan the Great

1 7.2
A Russian ruler of Moscow who united much of Russia by defeating the Tatars
  • proper noun
: Iván el Grande
  • Historians credit Ivan the Great with laying the foundations for a centralized Russian government.

Examples

  • Under Ivan the Great, Moscow finally broke free from Tartar domination.

  • The rule of Ivan the Great marked the beginning of Russia's emergence as a powerful state.

  • The legacy of Ivan the Great is still felt in modern Russia.

  • Did Ivan the Great really unify Russia during his reign?

  • Historians credit Ivan the Great with laying the foundations for a centralized Russian government.

  • The rule of Ivan the Great marked the beginning of Russia's emergence as a powerful state.

  • Under Ivan the Great, Moscow finally broke free from Tartar domination.

Synonyms

Ivan III
vsIvan the Great
1 9.1

A ruler of Muscovy who ended Mongol rule and united Russian lands

frames actions as contributing to broader national unity rather than only military success
Ivan III Vasilievich
vsIvan the Great
9.8

A ruler of the lands around Moscow who united Russian areas and ended Mongol control

focuses on victories that helped centralize power rather than gradual influence reduction

Surface Forms

Ivan the Great main

Morphology

Ivan + the + great

The epithet 'the Great' attached to a personal name transparently signals a distinguished or historically important person, so a B1 learner who knows the words would understand this refers to a famous/important Ivan. This naming pattern (e.g. 'Alexander the Great') is cross-linguistically common, though learners would not infer specific historical details like dates or titles from the constituents alone.

Etymology

Ivan the Great earned his name because he made Moscow much stronger by beating the Tatars in war and bringing many lands under one ruler. So calling him the Great reminds us he helped 'unite' Russia and build a stronger country.