Definition

1. Noun:
   • The Finnic language spoken by the Cheremis: This refers to a specific Uralic language.
   • A member of a rural Finnish people living in eastern Russia: This refers to an individual belonging to an ethnic group.

Usage Notes

• The term Cheremiss is an older exonym. The modern and preferred terms for both the people and the language are Mari.
• When used, it typically appears in historical, anthropological, or linguistic contexts.

Examples

• Noun (Language):
  • Some early ethnographic records include notes on the Cheremiss language.
  • The grammar of Cheremiss shows similarities to other Finno-Ugric languages.
• Noun (People):
  • A Cheremiss village was depicted in the traveler's account.
  • He lived among the Cheremiss for several years to study their traditions.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used attributively as an adjective in historical contexts (e.g., , ), though "Mari" is the standard modern form.

Variants and Related Words

• Mari (n.): The contemporary and preferred name for both the people and the language.
• Cheremis: An alternative spelling.
• Finno-Ugric (adj.): Referring to the larger language family that includes Cheremiss/Mari.

Synonyms

• For the people: Mari.
• For the language: Mari language.

Notes on Meaning

The word has two distinct but related meanings: 1. An ethnolinguistic identifier for a person. 2. The name of that people's language. Its use has largely been superseded by the term "Mari" in modern academic and cultural discourse.

Noun

1. the Finnic language spoken by the Cheremis
2. a member of a rural Finnish people living in eastern Russia