Potëmkin

[ poh-tem-kin, puh-; Russian puh-tyawm-kyin ]

noun
  1. Prince Gri·go·ri A·le·ksan·dro·vich [prinsgri-gawr-ee al-ig-zan-druh-vich, -zahn-; Russian gryi-gaw-ryee uh-lyi-ksahn-druh-vyich], /ˈprɪns grɪˈgɔr i ˌæl ɪgˈzæn drə vɪtʃ, -ˈzɑn-; Russian gryɪˈgɔ ryi ʌ lyɪˈksɑn drə vyɪtʃ/, 1739–91, Russian statesman and favorite of Catherine II.

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British Dictionary definitions for Potemkin

Potemkin

Potyomkin

/ (pɒˈtɛmkɪn, Russian paˈtjɔmkin) /


noun
  1. Grigori Aleksandrovich (ɡriˈɡɔrij alɪkˈsandrəvitʃ). 1739–91, Russian soldier and statesman; lover of Catherine II, whose favourite he remained until his death, and who is reputed to have erected sham villages along the route of the Empress's 1787 tour of the Crimea

  2. apparently impressive but actually sham or artificial: North Korea's Potemkin hospital

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