Лексикографическое описание слова „святой"
The Lexicographical Description of the Russian Lexeme “Saint”

Summary/Abstract: The article introduces description of extension and intension of the Russian lexeme SAINTbasing upon its definitions presented in the diachronic and modern defining dictionaries (11dictionaries were reviewed). The lexicographical data had been compared to reveal the differencebetween the core of the concept in the modern language and the same periods. The dictionaries treat the word SAINT (either noun or adjective) as polysemous; up untilthe 18th century all the meanings of the word were covered by the religious semantic structure included the following interconnected components: (1) source of saintliness; (2)guides to saintliness; (3) embodiment of saintliness; (4) manifestation of saintliness; (5) path leading to saintliness; (6) the men of God. The above semantic system may be treated as hierarchymade up along the axis ‘GOD - MAN’, and the sole and ultimate apex of such hierarchy is theDivinity. In the modern defining dictionaries, the meanings of the word in question (reflecting thereligious knowledge about the universe and the reality of the human creative work) are notmatching with above semantic system. Moreover, ‘the quintessence of the saintliness’ is no moreGod, but man. This is the indication of the fact that the idea of the Ecclesia of Heaven and of Earth(that had been formed under influence of the early ethnical and Christian traditions and theologicaland philosophical conceptualization of human being) is distorted in the mind of the modernRussian native-speakers.

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