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Glite Dictionary
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Spencerian

Spencerian

9.9
A person who supports the social and political ideas of Herbert Spencer
  • noun
  • /spɛnˈsɪəriən/
translation icon : spenceriano
  • The principles of the Spencerians have influenced discussions on social policy and individual responsibility throughout history.

Examples

  • Spencerians believe that the unemployed and the underemployed deserve their destitution.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Many Spencerians advocate for a society where individual success is determined by one's ability to adapt and thrive in the competitive environment.

  • Spencerians often emphasize the idea that social Darwinism supports the notion that the strongest individuals rise to the top in society.

Surface Forms

Spencerian singular
Spencerians plural

Morphology

Spencerian = Spencer (semi-transparent) = Spencer + ian

The derivation from the surname is straightforward, but understanding that it denotes a follower of Herbert Spencer requires specific background knowledge of that person and his ideas.

Etymology

The word Spencerian comes from the name Spencer and the ending -ian, which means 'a follower of' or 'someone related to' that person. So a Spencerian is 'a follower of Spencer', meaning someone who supports Herbert Spencer's social and political ideas.