Nouns of Religion Semantic Field with Suffix -stv/о/ in the Russian of 18th Century (Examplified by Lexicographic Works of the Civil Press)

Abstract

The article deals with the history of religious style formation in the Russian language. The research considers nouns of religion semantic field with a suffix -stv/о/, recorded in the 18 th century Russian lexicographic works of civil press, which provide detailed representationof confessional vocabulary – The Church Dictionaryby archpriest Peter Alekseev (1773–1794), The Short Slavic Dictionary by abbot Evgeny (Romanov) (1784) and The Dictionary of the Russian Academy (1789–1794). The paper features peculiarities in word-formation and semantic structure of nouns with a suffix -stv/о/ belonging to religion semantic field.Their lexical and grammatical categories as well as thematic groups are described.The neologisms that appeared in the 18 th century within these groups are revealed. Active development of word-formation models, arising in Russian in that period, has contributed to emerging word-formation patternsfor the nouns of religion semantic field with a suffix -stv/о/, which have been established and analyzed. It is shown that despite the notable competition caused by existence of synonymous derivatives, nouns of religion semantic field with a suffix -stv/о/ have sufficient representation in the dictionary system of the Russian language of the 18 th century, forming a special layer of confessional vocabulary. It should be noted, that the abovementioned word class, as well as Russian religious style as a whole, was going through the process of active formationin the 18 th century.