Webster's English Dictionary

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conservatism

con.ser.va.tism \k*n-'s*r-v*-.tiz-*m\ n 1a: disposition in politics to 
   preserve what is established  1b: a political philosophy based on tradition 
   and social stability, stressi ng established institutions, and preferring 
   gradual development to abrupt change cap  2a: the principles and policies 
   of the Conservative party in the United Kin gdom 2b: the Conservative party 
    3: tendency to prefer an existing situation to change