conservative English · revision 4342

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1384|origins=la servare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kənˈsɜː.və.tɪv/, US /kənˈsɝː.və.t̬ɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|conservatyf]],^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|conservatif]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-med|conservātīvus]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) from Latin conservatus, past participle of [[m|la|conservāre|t=to keep, preserve, keep intact]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from com-, here perhaps intensive, and servare “to keep watch, maintain”,^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*ser-|t=to protect]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[conserve]] and [[conservation]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Tending to preserve or keep intact; preservative”: about 1384 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The noun, a means of preservation, a preservative, is also from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Johnson in 1755 still defined it as “having the power of opposing diminution or injury”.^(Johnson 1755) The modern senses date from the 19th century.^(NODE 1998) As the name of a British political party it first appeared in 1830, in an unsigned article in the Quarterly Review sometimes attributed to John Wilson Croker,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and by 1843 it had replaced the older, pejorative Tory.^(Etymonline) The noun in this political sense is from 1831.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Conservatism as a political tradition goes back to Edmund Burke's opposition to the French Revolution, but the word is not in his writings: it was coined by his French followers, such as Chateaubriand, whose journal was Le Conservateur.^(Etymonline) The general sense “disposed to keep what is established, opposed to change” is from 1840,^(Etymonline) and it was applied to similar movements in other countries from 1845.^(OED 1989) “Cautious, moderate”, especially of a deliberately low estimate, is from 1900.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1384 – preservative.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1755 – Johnson: “having the power of opposing diminution”.^(Johnson 1755)

+ * 1830 – the British Conservative party.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1831 – noun, a political Conservative.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1840 – opposed to change.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1845 – of movements in other countries.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1900 – cautious; of an estimate.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Favouring [[traditional]] views and values; tending to oppose change.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Traditional or restrained in style: ''a conservative suit''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # [[Moderate]] or cautious: ''a conservative estimate''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of the political philosophy of [[conservatism]], or of a conservative party.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(medicine)'' Aiming to preserve tissue rather than remove it: ''conservative surgery''.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who favours traditional views and values.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A supporter of political conservatism, or a member of a Conservative party.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A preservative.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[conservatively]]

+ * [[conservativeness]]

+ * [[neoconservative]]

+ * [[ultraconservative]]

+ * [[archconservative]]

+ * [[conservatize]]

+ * [[hyperconservative]]

+ * [[nonconservative]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[conserve]]

+ * [[conservationist]]

+ * [[conservatism]]

+ * [[conservator]]

+ * [[conservation]]

+ * [[conservatory]]

+ * [[preserve]]

+ * [[observe]]

+ * [[Tory]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}