declensionist

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

declension +‎ -ist

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

declensionist (plural declensionists)

  1. One offering a narrative of decline.
    • 2009, Devin Fergus, Liberalism, Black Power, and the Making of American Politics, 1965-1980, page 338:
      A second oppositional narrative to the dominant interpretation might be added, that of the declensionists.
    • 2005, Geoff Cunfer, On the Great Plains: agriculture and environment, page 10:
      The declensionist narrative first appeared among New Deal reformers who aimed to adjust land use and agricultural economics on the Great Plains

Adjective[edit]

declensionist (comparative more declensionist, superlative most declensionist)

  1. Tending to show decline.
    • 1998, Matthew Potteiger with Jamie Purinton, Landscape narratives: design practices for telling stories, page 236:
      As in Cole's work. the plot becomes declensionist, beginning with the race of demigods and ending in the contemporary iron age

Related terms[edit]