Con*serv"a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F.
conservatif.] 1. Having power to
preserve in a safe of entire state, or from loss, waste, or
injury; preservative.
2. Tending or disposed to maintain
existing institutions; opposed to change or innovation.
3. Of or pertaining to a political party
which favors the conservation of existing institutions and forms
of government, as the Conservative party in England; --
contradistinguished from Liberal and
Radical.
We have always been conscientiously attached to
what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be
called the Conservative, party.
Quart. Rev. (1830).
Conservative system (Mech.), a
material system of such a nature that after the system has
undergone any series of changes, and been brought back in any
manner to its original state, the whole work done by external
agents on the system is equal to the whole work done by the
system overcoming external forces.
Clerk Maxwell.
Con*serv"a*tive (?), n.
1. One who, or that which, preserves from
ruin, injury, innovation, or radical change; a preserver; a
conserver.
The Holy Spirit is the great conservative
of the new life.
Jer. Taylor.
2. One who desires to maintain existing
institutions and customs; also, one who holds moderate opinions
in politics; -- opposed to revolutionary or
radical.
3. (Eng. Hist.) A member of the
Conservative party.