sb. [ad. F. fédéraliste: see FEDERAL and -IST.]
1. One who advocates or supports federalism or federal union.
1792. Explan. New Terms, in Ann. Reg., p. xv. Federalists, or friends to a federal union; such as that … among the United States of America.
1794. Burke, Pref. Brissot’s Addr., Wks. VII. 318. The Girondin faction on this account received also the name of federalists.
1851. Gallenga, Italy, II. xii. 436. The federalists in Switzerland have only yesterday baffled both those evil powers.
1863. Fawcett, Pol. Econ., II. x. (1876), 275. The federalists say, that if all the productive societies are in direct connection with the Central Wholesale Society, a certain and steady market for their produce is ensured.
2. U.S. Hist. A member or supporter of the Federal party. See FEDERAL a. 3.
1787. Madison, in Federalist, No. 10. Cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of Federalists.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 30. The federalists are the great patrons of commerce; but they are as proud of the national lands as the broadest of the democrats.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. III. liii. 325. The advocates of a central national authority had begun to receive the name of Federalists.
3. attrib.
1801. W. Dupré, Neolog. Fr. Dict., 117. Federalist motions and intrigues.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 289. If the democracy see that the clergy are almost all federalists, and the federalist merchants and lawyers consider the clergy so little fit for common affairs as to call them a set of people between men and women, it is easy to see whence arises the dislike to their taking part in politics; if indeed the dislike really exists.
1876. H. C. Lodge, Alexander Hamilton, in N. Amer. Rev. CXXIII., July, 130. The Federalist party was a very remarkable political organization.
Hence Federalistic a., inclined to federalism.
1862. Parthenon, 26 July, 398. Before 1848, Italy was more ‘federalistic’ than unitarist.
