Both teacher and guide, or On the meaning of the word nastavnik (tutor) in the 18th century

Abstract

In the article we make an attempt to describe one of the semantic aspects of the word nastavnik in the18th century Russian language. Using text sources we demonstrate that in the 18th century the word in question was till somehow related to the idea of a guide, pathfinder, fellow traveler, which had been characteristic of its earlier occurences. This fact is particularly well documented in religious writings as well as in translations and bilingual dictionaries. Nevertheless, secular non-lexicographic text monuments of the time also feature some of the examples in question. We also claim that the semantic structure of the corresponding article in the "Dictionary of the 18th century Russian language "should be revised in order to include the aforementioned component of meaning.