voivode

[ voi-vohd ]

noun

1. (in Eastern European history) a local ruler or governor, especially the semi-independent rulers of Transylvania, Wallachia, or Moldova before c1700.

Word History and Origins

Origin of voivode¹

First recorded in 1550–60; ultimately from Slavic; compare Polish wojewoda, Russian voevóda, Serbo-Croatian vȍj(e)voda, Old Church Slavonic vojevoda “commander, governor” (translating Greek hēgemṓn and stratēgós ), equivalent to voj- base of voinŭ “warrior” + -e- variant (after j ) of -o- -o- + -voda, noun derivative of voditi “to lead”; vaivode, from Hungarian vajvoda (now vajda ), from Slavic

Example Sentences

In 1475 Stephen the Great, having dethroned the voivode Radu, burned the town.

From Project Gutenberg

Or Brankovitch, the Servian Despot, will hail you as chief voivode.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, one who is to be king of Albania one day, the Voivode Amesa.

From Project Gutenberg

To get her off with him may serve that somebody else: for the voivode is a villain: that much is sure.

From Project Gutenberg

But from the voivode in Yakutsk we received no support whatever.

From Project Gutenberg