Con|serv|a|tive

con|serv|a|tive «kuhn SUR vuh tihv», adjective, noun.

–adj.

1. inclined to keep things as they are or were in the past; opposed to change, especially any change in traditions: »

“What was good enough for my grandfather is good enough for me” is something that a conservative person might say.

2. not inclined to take risks; cautious; moderate: »

a conservative estimate. This old, reliable company has conservative business methods.

3. of or belonging to a political party pledged to preserve established traditions and to oppose major changes in national institutions.

4. free from novelties and fads: »

It is economical to choose suits of a conservative style.

5. having the power to preserve from harm or decay; conserving; preserving: »

Forces such as those of gravity…where the work is not recoverable, are called conservative forces (Sears and Zemansky).

–n.

1. a person who is opposed to change, either by nature or on principle: »

The split between the conservatives and the modernists is as wide in Italy as it is elsewhere (New Yorker).

2. a member of a conservative political party.

3. a means of preserving; preservative.

4. a person who from prejudice or lack of foresight is opposed to true progress.

–con|serv´a|tive|ly, adverb.

–con|serv´a|tive|ness, noun.

Con|serv|a|tive «kuhn SUR vuh tihv», adjective, noun.

–adj.

1. of or belonging to the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada: »

Two or three times a year…Liberal members of parliament cause painful embarrassment to forty-two Conservative foes (Maclean's).

2. of or having to do with a modern branch of Judaism regarded as being midway between Orthodox and Reform Judaism: »

a Conservative synagogue or temple.

–n.

1. a member of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada.

2. an adherent of the Conservative branch of Judaism.