gild
Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gild'
English Word: gild
Key Russian Translations:
- гильдия [ˈɡʲilʲdʲɪjə] - [Formal, Noun, Refers to a medieval guild or association]
- позолотить [pəzɐˈlotʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts of coating with gold]
Frequency: Medium for 'гильдия' (commonly encountered in historical or professional contexts); Low for 'позолотить' (more specialized in artistic or descriptive language).
Difficulty: A2 for 'гильдия' (beginner level, as it's a straightforward noun); B1 for 'позолотить' (intermediate, due to verb conjugation and less frequent usage).
Pronunciation (Russian):
гильдия: [ˈɡʲilʲdʲɪjə]
позолотить: [pəzɐˈlotʲɪtʲ]
Note on позолотить: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization.
Audio: []
Meanings and Usage:
Meaning 1: Gild as a noun (a medieval association or guild)
Translation(s) & Context:
- гильдия - Used in formal, historical, or professional contexts, such as discussing trade organizations or historical societies.
Usage Examples:
В средневековой Европе гильдия ремесленников играла ключевую роль в экономике.
In medieval Europe, the guild of craftsmen played a key role in the economy.
Современные гильдии художников организуют выставки и мастер-классы.
Modern guilds of artists organize exhibitions and workshops.
Гильдия торговцев контролировала цены на рынке в те времена.
The guild of merchants controlled prices in the market back then.
Каждый член гильдии должен был пройти строгий экзамен.
Every member of the guild had to pass a strict examination.
Гильдия писателей в России имеет долгую историю.
The guild of writers in Russia has a long history.
Meaning 2: Gild as a verb (to cover with a thin layer of gold)
Translation(s) & Context:
- позолотить - Used in artistic, decorative, or metaphorical contexts, such as describing jewelry or embellishments.
Usage Examples:
Мастер позолотил раму картины, чтобы она выглядела роскошно.
The master gilded the picture frame to make it look luxurious.
В ювелирном деле часто позолотить серебро, чтобы оно не темнело.
In jewelry making, silver is often gilded to prevent it from tarnishing.
Художник решил позолотить края книги для особого эффекта.
The artist decided to gild the edges of the book for a special effect.
Позолотить статую – это традиционный способ почтить память.
Gilding a statue is a traditional way to honor memory.
В старинных церквях иконы часто позолотить золотом.
In ancient churches, icons are often gilded with gold.
Russian Forms/Inflections:
For 'гильдия' (a feminine noun, 1st declension):
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | гильдия | гильдии |
| Genitive | гильдии | гильдий |
| Dative | гильдии | гильдиям |
| Accusative | гильдию | гильдии |
| Instrumental | гильдией | гильдиями |
| Prepositional | гильдии | гильдиях |
For 'позолотить' (a verb, perfective aspect, 1st conjugation):
| Tense/Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Present (Imperfective: золотить) | я золотю, ты золотишь, он золотит |
| Past | позолотил (masc.), позолотила (fem.), позолотило (neut.), позолотили (plur.) |
| Future | я позолочу, ты позолотишь, он позолотит |
Both words follow regular patterns, but 'позолотить' requires attention to aspect (perfective for completed actions).
Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:
- Synonyms for гильдия: союз (soyuz - union), ассоциация (assotsiatsiya - association). Note: 'союз' is more general and less formal.
- Synonyms for позолотить: покрыть золотом (pokryt' zolotom - to cover with gold), вызолотить (vyzolotit' - to gild, less common variant).
- Antonyms for гильдия: одиночество (odinochestvo - solitude, implying lack of association).
- Antonyms for позолотить: потемнить (potemnit' - to darken), облупить (oblupit' - to strip or peel off).
Related Phrases:
- Гильдия мастеров - A guild of masters; refers to a professional organization in historical contexts.
- Позолотить листья - To gild leaves; used in artistic or decorative descriptions, e.g., in autumn-themed art.
- Вступить в гильдию - To join a guild; common in discussions of professional memberships.
Usage Notes:
'Гильдия' directly corresponds to the English 'gild' in historical or organizational senses but is rarely used in modern casual speech; opt for it in formal writing. 'Позолотить' aligns with 'to gild' for literal gold-coating but can be metaphorical (e.g., embellishing something). Be mindful of grammatical gender for nouns and verb aspects in Russian—use perfective for completed actions. When choosing between translations, select based on context: 'гильдия' for groups, 'позолотить' for actions.
Common Errors:
- Error: Using 'гильдия' as a verb form (e.g., confusing it with 'gild' as an action). Correct: 'Гильдия' is only a noun; use 'позолотить' for actions. Example of error: *Я гильдия раму* (incorrect). Correct: Я позолотил раму (I gilded the frame). Explanation: Russian nouns don't function as verbs, so learners must identify word classes accurately.
- Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying 'гильдию' in nominative case. Correct: Use proper case based on sentence structure, like 'в гильдии' for prepositional. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English lacks, leading to confusion in prepositional phrases.
Cultural Notes:
In Russian culture, 'гильдия' evokes medieval European traditions, often romanticized in literature like Tolstoy's works, symbolizing community and craftsmanship. 'Позолотить' relates to Orthodox iconography, where gilding icons is a sacred practice, reflecting themes of divinity and beauty in Russian art history.
Related Concepts:
- союз
- ремесло (remeslo - craft)
- золото (zoloto - gold)