Also 8 oukauze, ukause, 9 (o)ukaz. [ad. Russ. указъ ukaz’, f. указатъ ukazatj to show, direct, order, decree. Hence also F. ukase, oukase, Pg. ukase, Sp. ucase, G., Da., Sw. ukas.]
1. A decree or edict, having the force of law, issued by the Russian emperor or government.
α. 1729. Consett, Pres. State Russia, Pref. p. lxiv. A true Oukauze or Edict sign’d with her Imperial Majesty’s own hand.
1797. W. Tooke, Cath. II. (1798), III. 204. A gracious ukause … put an end to every process of more than ten years standing.
1833. R. Pinkerton, Russia, 62. The ukaz, which expelled them from the empire,… was dated March 13, 1820.
1877. D. M. Wallace, Russia, i. 12. Fifteen years ago the domestic serfs were emancipated by Imperial Ukaz.
1894. Times, 11 Dec., 8/3. In execution of the Imperial Oukaz to the Minister of Finance.
β. 1775. Ann. Reg., Chron., 120. The Empress of Russia issued an ukase, whereby various taxes are abolished.
1810. E. D. Clarke, Trav. Russia (1839), 28/1. A ukase had appeared, which forbade the importation of any kind of foreign literature.
1889. Gunter, That Frenchman, xv. 193. The ukase of September has been issued—proclaiming, in time of peace, military law.
2. transf. Any proclamation or decree; an order or regulation of a final or arbitrary nature.
1818. Lady Morgan, Fl. Macarthy, II. ii. (1819), 106 (Stanf.). He was even half inclined to send out an ukase to Jemmy Bryan, and his myrmidons, to hold themselves in readiness.
1859. Kingsley, Misc., Plays & Purit., II. 136. That New England ukase of Cotton Mather’s, who punished the woman who should kiss her infant on the Sabbath day.
1880. Mrs. Whitney, Odd or Even? xxx. Whatever the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table may have found true, or have recorded by his ukase, twenty years ago.
