3 words that entered the Russian language thanks to Leo Tolstoy
The vocabulary of the ‘War and Peace’ author was vast and specialists have compiled entire dictionaries of rare words used by the writer. And these words entered the Russian language precisely through his influence.
‘Непротивление’ (‘neprotivlenie’)
Tolstoy played on the word ‘сопротивление’ (‘resistance’). He contrasted it with ‘непротивление’ (‘non-resistance’), that is, the refusal to engage in violent resistance. Tolstoy's philosophical concept of “non-resistance to evil through violence”’ grew out of Christian reflections. It’s a rejection of revenge and a life based on the principle of love for one's neighbor. Even Mahatma Gandi took his idea into account.
‘Толстовка’ (‘tolstovka’)
Sweatshirts, hoodies… in Russia, all of these types of clothes are referred to as ‘tolstovka’. Of course, the writer's ‘tolstovka’ looked a little different: it was a long shirt with loose cut. Photos of him wearing this shirt were so widely circulated that a fashion trend for clothing of a similar cut even emerged. Fans named it in honor of the writer. By the way, followers of his teachings were also named in honor of the writer – ‘Tolstoyans’ and the movement – ‘Tolstoyism’.
‘Флакончик’ (‘flakonchik’)
In Russian, even before Tolstoy, the word ‘флакон’ (‘flaсon’) existed, which originally came from French. But, it was Tolstoy who first used it in the diminutive-affectionate form of ‘флакончик’ in his autobiographical novella ‘Boyhood’. And the word firmly took root in the language: now ‘флакончик духов’ (‘flacon of perfume’) can be heard much more often.
