\Con*serv"a*tive\, a. [Cf. F. conservatif.]
1. Having power to preserve in a safe of entire state, or
   from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.
2. Tending or disposed to maintain existing institutions;
   opposed to change or innovation.
3. Of or pertaining to a political party which favors the
   conservation of existing institutions and forms of
   government, as the Conservative party in England; --
   contradistinguished from {Liberal} and {Radical}.
         We have always been conscientiously attached to what
         is called the Tory, and which might with more
         propriety be called the Conservative, party.
                                               --Quart. Rev.
                                               (1830).
{Conservative system} (Mech.), a material system of such a
   nature that after the system has undergone any series of
   changes, and been brought back in any manner to its
   original state, the whole work done by external agents on
   the system is equal to the whole work done by the system
   overcoming external forces.                 --Clerk
                                               Maxwell.

\Con*serv"a*tive\, n.
1. One who, or that which, preserves from ruin, injury,
   innovation, or radical change; a preserver; a conserver.
         The Holy Spirit is the great conservative of the new
         life.                                 --Jer. Taylor.
2. One who desires to maintain existing institutions and
   customs; also, one who holds moderate opinions in
   politics; -- opposed to revolutionary or radical.
3. (Eng. Hist.) A member of the Conservative party.