reversionist

English

Etymology

From reversion +‎ -ist.

Noun

reversionist (plural reversionists)

1. One who clings to previous patterns of behavior or thought, rejecting social or cultural change.
   • 1983, P. Susan Penfold, Gillian Walker, Women and the psychiatric paradox, page 134:

     The right-wing Reversionist focuses on a small town past where law, order and predictability prevail.

   • 1987, Alvin Toffler, Previews & Premises, →ISBN, page 90:

     These reversionists think technology and industrialism are synonymous. They can't imagine clean technology, human technology.

   • 1990, Jentri Anders, Beyond Counterculture: The Community of Mateel, page 10:

     Far from being reversionists, Mateelians are constantly in search of non-polluting, low-energy technology to combine with their labor-intensive strategies and high-quality crafts.

   • 2011, Colin Watson, Broomsticks Over Flaxborough, →ISBN:

     A dedicated reversionist, she considered Arthur to have been the last British monarch worthy of the crown. She would have re-instituted the maypole and the setting out of bowls of cream for goblins — despite lack of response to a saucer of Carnation Milk she three times thrice had left on the elegant proch of 3 Mather Gardens.

2. (theology) One who has lost faith; a heathen, nonbeliever, or apostate.
   • 2011, Daniel J. Coleman, The New Day Experience, →ISBN:

     But for the reversionist the indwelling of Christ has no effect.

   • 2012, D.A. Miller, A Theological Study of The Book of Romans, →ISBN, page 86:

     The reality which is expected is the justice of God judging unbeliever reversionists, both Jews and Gentiles, and sending them to the Lake of Fire.

   • 2013, Terry Puett, Institute Of Biblical Studies The Book Of Genesis, →ISBN, page 268:

     Lot is a believer who is a monetary reversionist. He abandoned the directive will of God for "sordid gain" (cf. 1Tim. 3:8; Titus 1:7, 11; 1Pet. 5:2; Gk. aischrokerdes).

3. The person to whom a property reverts when a freehold expires.
   • 1812, Parliamentary Debates: Official Report - Volume 15:

     As to the argument about the possibility of the reversionist not being capable of discharging his duties, that would equally apply to the granting a place for one life, as then the holder might live so long, or become so infirm as to be unable to fulfil all the duties of his situation.

   • 1822, The Quarterly review - Volume 26, page 268:

     If the particular species of clamour, to which we allude, has in some degree subsided, we doubt whether the cessateion of hostilities is so much to be ascribed to a full sense of its absurdity and wickedness, as to a growing consciousness that the lewd libidinous stare, directed against the jewels of the crown, would in time be transferred to wealth of a more substantial kind, and that the fund-holder and land-owner would come in for a share of that clamour which had hitherto been confined to the pensionist and the reversionist.

   • 1892, A Handbook to Political Questions of the Day, page 304:

     Between the "occupier" pure and simple and the freehold reversionist, there are, usually, a large number of intermediate beneficial interests in the property : of which the occupier is probably possessed of a portion and the reversionist of another portion.

   • 1975, Michael K. Barker, Gladstone and radicalism, page 142:

     On the other hand, if land values were subjected to a special rate (as under the terms of Montagu's bill), it would be the occupying and ultimate owner who would suffer - not the intermediate reversionist.

Adjective

reversionist (comparative more reversionist, superlative most reversionist)

1. Pertaining to or characteristic of reversionists.
   • 1975, Alvin Toffler, The eco-spasm report, page 73:

     Certain fringe ecologists are quite as reversionist in their thinking, and reach even farther back for their image of the good life.

   • 1999, Marine Technology and SNAME News - Volume 36, page 104:

     This confirms that the design process is more reversionist than might be imagined.

   • 2003, Glen D. Hook, Richard Siddle, Japan and Okinawa: Structure and Subjectivity, →ISBN, page 437:

     Second, the movement sheds light on the nature of 'reversionist thought supported by the Japan Reversionist Movement' (NakanoandArasaki 1976:85)