oprichnina

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from Russian опри́чнина (opríčnina). === Noun === oprichnina (uncountable) (historical) The period of Russian history between 1565 and 1572 during which Tsar Ivan the Terrible instituted a domestic policy of secret police, mass repressions, public executions, and confiscation of land from Russian aristocrats. (historical) This domestic policy. 2014, N.N., Sputnik & Pogrom, A brief guide to the Russian psyche: Starting with Ivan the Terrible, whose “oprichnina” destroyed the ancient boyar families, eliminating any alternative to the state and sovereign as principal character throughout our history. ==== Related terms ==== oprichnik ==== Translations ====