Thermidorian

English

Etymology

From Thermidor +‎ -ian, after French thermidorien.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌθɜːmɪˈdɔːɹɪ.ən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌθɝməˈdɔɹi.ən/
• Rhymes: -ɔːɹiən

Noun

Thermidorian (plural Thermidorians)

1. (history) Someone who took part in, or supported, the overthrow of Robespierre on the 9th Thermidor (27 July) 1794.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 501:

     By then, the Thermidorians’ sights were already trained on a further target, namely, ‘the Four’, as they became known: Billaud-Varenne, Collot d'Herbois and Barère from the old CPS and Vadier from the CGS.

Adjective

Thermidorian (comparative more Thermidorian, superlative most Thermidorian)

1. (history) Pertaining to such people (in French history).
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 501:

     The Thermidorian spirit of revenge focused particularly on the most extreme – and most unrepentant – former Terrorists within the Convention.

2. Designating a relatively moderate reaction to a revolution.
   • 1974, W.F. Wertheim, Evolution and Revolution:

     It is against the background of these Thermidorian tendencies in the Soviet Union that we have to view the so-called ‘Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution’ in China.

Related terms

• Brumairian
• Fructidorian