Leo Tolstoy

2 3.5

A Russian writer of long novels about people and right and wrong

proper noun
/ˈliːoʊ tɒlˈstɔɪ/

: León Tolstói

Many consider Leo Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' to be one of the greatest novels ever written.

Examples

Did Leo Tolstoy write 'War and Peace'?
Many consider Leo Tolstoy one of the greatest novelists of all time.
She wrote her thesis on the moral vision of Leo Tolstoy in 19th-century Russian literature.
The philosophy of Leo Tolstoy influenced leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
Many consider Leo Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' to be one of the greatest novels ever written.
The philosophy of Leo Tolstoy influenced leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
She wrote her thesis on the moral vision of Leo Tolstoy in 19th-century Russian literature.

Synonyms

Tolstoy

vsLeo Tolstoy

24 4.6

A Russian writer famous for long novels like War and Peace and Anna Karenina

is the full name form using given name for clearer identification

Count Lev Nikolayevitch Tolstoy

vsLeo Tolstoy

Literature

6.0

A Russian writer from the 1800s famous for the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina

is the common full name without aristocratic title and simpler tone

Surface Forms

Leo Tolstoy main

Morphology

Leo + Tolstoy

This is a standard personal name formed by given name + surname; its meaning is purely referential (identifying a specific person) rather than idiomatic. If a learner knows the constituents—especially that 'Tolstoy' refers to the well-known author—they will understand that 'Leo Tolstoy' names that individual, so the expression is transparently interpretable.

Etymology

Leo Tolstoy comes from two parts: Leo, from a word meaning 'lion', and Tolstoy, a Russian family name that long ago meant 'thick' or 'stout'. Picture a strong lion with a heavy coat. This simple image helps you remember a great Russian writer known for big, serious novels and moral ideas.