declensionist

declensionist

English

Etymology

declension +‎ -ist

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈklɛnʃənɪst/

Noun

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

declensionist (comparative more declensionist, superlative most declensionist)

1. Tending to show decline.
   • 1998, Matthew Potteiger, 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

• declensionism