sb. and a. rare. [f. as prec.: see -IST.] sb. One who would preserve (institutions, etc.) unchanged. adj. = CONSERVATIVE.
1867. Parkman, Jesuits N. Amer. (1881), p. lxvi. Impracticable conservatists of barbarism.
1872. F. Hall, Recent Exempl. False Philol., 92. Here … [he] figures in the unfavourable character of a conservatist just for the sake of conservatism.
1877. Mrs. Kingsley, Life C. Kingsley, I. 162. Surprised at the loyal, conservatist, serious tone of its contents.
