Taken from Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
so′vi∙et (sō′vĭ·ĕt ; so′vĭ·ĕt′
; sō·vyĕt′ ; sŏv′ĭ·ĕt), n. [Russ. sovet.]
1.
A
council; specif.:
(a) [often cap.] Either one of two governing bodies (village soviets,
town soviets) consisting of representatives of workmen,
soldiers, and peasants, in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. A soviet is the supreme local authority and
it sends deputies to each of the higher bodies (soviet congresses) having
authority over larger units. The
highest governmental body of all is the Supreme Soviet or Council.
(b) Any of various similar socialistic bodies
elsewhere.
2.
[cap.]
(a)
With
the. The Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics.
(b) pl. The people, leaders, or armed forces of the U.S.S.R. -- so′vi·et, adj. – so′vi·et·dom (-dŭm), n.
so′vi·et·ism
(sō′vĭ·ĕt·ĭz′m;
sō′vĭ·ĕt′-; sō·vyĕt′-;
sŏv′ĭ·ĕt-), n.
The form of government carried on through soviets;
communism; Bolshevism. -- so′vi·et·ist
(-ĭst), n. -- so′vi·et·i·za′tion
(sō′vĭ·ĕt·ĭ·zā′shŭn;
-ī·zā′-; sō′vĭ·ĕt ; sõ·vyĕt′ ;
sŏv′ĭ·ĕt-, -ĕt′-), n. -- so′vi·et·ize
(-ĭz), v. t.