society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > government minister > [noun] > head of government department > in U.S.S.R. (3)
In the Russian Republic and later the Soviet Union: (a) More fully People's Commissary: = commissar, n. 1a; (b) = commissar, n. 1b. Now historical.
Chiefly with capital initial. In full People's Commissar. In the Russian Republic and later the Soviet Union: a member of an executive committee…
More fully People's Commissionary: = commissar, n. 1a. Cf. commissary, n.1 8. Now historical.