bourbonism means the principles of the supporters of the House of Bourbon; obstinate conservatism. It carries an Arena rating of 1270, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, bourbonism ranks #249 of 13,223 for Most Storied Words, #4,689 of 13,223 for The Improbable, #5,186 of 13,223 for Most Incisive Words, #5,583 of 13,223 for Most Ponderous Words.
Why “bourbonism” is a great word
Bourbonism is the political ideology of obstinate conservatism and rigid adherence to traditional monarchical authority, particularly that of the House of Bourbon. From Bourbon, the name of the European royal house, and the suffix -ism, denoting a distinctive system or ideology. Unlike progressivism, which is animated by the future, or reformism, which navigates the present, Bourbonism is a doctrine of petrified memory. It is the stubborn preservation of ancient privilege amid the cries for bread, the dust undisturbed on a velvet throne, and the unyielding throne in a hall of cracked mirrors—a philosophy that, having learned nothing and forgotten nothing, mistakes inertia for tradition and sees only ruin in the turning of a page.
Etymology
From Bourbon + -ism.
noun
- The principles of the supporters of the House of Bourbon; obstinate conservatism.“Bourbonism had dominated France for a century and a half, growing daily more arrogant, grasping, unfeeling, cruel, autocratic. Bourbonism is a constant quality in human nature. It is spawned of the possession of irresponsible power.”
Words closest in meaning
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