tsaritsa
9.9
The wife or widow of a Russian emperor
- noun
- /tsəˈritsə/
:
zarina
- As the tsaritsa of Russia, she played a vital role in the court's politics and culture.
Examples
-
The tsaritsa hosted a grand ball to celebrate the anniversary of her husband's reign.
-
Soon the images of the tsar and tsaritsa, their servants, and three of their children—including Anastasia—were there for all to see.
Academic text (2003) -
After the death of her husband, the tsaritsa became a figure of compassion for the Russian people.
Synonyms
empress
vstsaritsa
72
5.0
A woman who rules an empire or who is married to an emperor
is specific to the wife or widow of a czar in Russia
tsarina
vstsaritsa
1
9.9
A woman who was a czar's wife or who ruled Russia as empress before 1917
refers only to the wife or widow rather than to a woman ruler
9.9
A Russian empress who is the wife or widow of a czar
means the same role but is a different historical form
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tsaritsa comes from tsar (from Latin Caesar, which meant 'emperor') and the Slavic ending -itsa, which makes a word female. So, tsaritsa literally means the female of a tsar and refers to the wife or widow of a czar.