14 mars 2012

Forgotten Obsolete English Words #7 : Reactive



REACTIONARY (noun) :
Etymology : From French réactionnaire. Used in the time of the French revolution to refer to a person opposing the revolution; as in a person favoring a reaction to the revolution.
(1) A person who vehemently, often fanatically opposes progress and favors return to a previous condition [synonymous : die-hard, mossback, ultraconservative]


REACTIONARY (adjective) :
(1) Characterized by reaction, especially opposition to progress or liberalism; extremely conservative. Vehemently, often fanatically opposing progress or reform. [Synonymous : die-hard, mossbacked, ultraconservative]
(2) Clinging to obsolete ideas [Synonymous : backward, conservative, unprogressive]


Not to confound with : 


REACTIVE (adjective) :
(1) that reacts or responds to a stimulus. Reacting to things that happen, rather than making things happen yourself. Tending to be responsive or to react to a stimulus.
(2) Reacting to the past rather than anticipating the future, not predictive.

PROACTIVE (adjective) :
(1) relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning
(2) acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes [Synonymous : farseeing, farsighted, forehanded, foreseeing, forethoughtful, forward, forward-looking, prescient, provident, visionary]

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