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1mass nounA language of the Iranian group spoken in the central Caucasian region of Ossetia.
‘The principal minority languages are Abkhazian, Armenian, Azeri, Ossetian, and Russian.’
‘Ossetian is spoken on the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains.’
2A native or inhabitant of Ossetia.
‘The adjacent province of North Ossetia, also dominated by Ossetians, is part of Russia.’
‘The Ossetians, for example, who are from the same ethnic branch as the Chechens, today are predominantly Christian.’
‘Many South Ossetians have a greater affinity with the Russian region of North Ossetia than with Tbilisi.’
‘During several centuries of common statehood, the Abkhaz, Armenians, Turks, and Ossetians partly preserved their cultural identities, while Albanians were fully assimilated.’
‘Most Abkhazians and South Ossetians have taken out Russian citizenship and earn their living by trading with Russia.’
adjective
Relating to Ossetia or its language.
‘Much information from this book has been summarised by Anna Chaudhri, who also introduced similar elements from Ossetian hunting lore.’
‘At the time of writing, neither the Abkhaz nor the Ossetian conflicts have been resolved.’
‘But, in spite of the intense piano playing, he had known since he was eight that he would be a conductor, simply because he had been told - and a good Ossetian boy does what he is told.’
‘He is not, of course, Russian himself, but Ossetian.’