Russia under the old Empire
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Theoretically it had large powers and was democratic; but it was always under the thumb of the great landowners, and all its decrees were subject to the approval of the Governor.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Russia under the old Empire” mean?
Theoretically it had large powers and was democratic; but it was always under the thumb of the great landowners, and all its decrees were subject to the approval of the Governor.
Is “Russia under the old Empire” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.