perfectibiliann.
/pəˌfɛktᵻˈbɪlɪən/, U.S. /pərˌfɛktəˈbɪljən/ Now historical.
= perfectibilist n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > doctrine of human perfectibility > [noun] > believer in
perfective1602
perfectionist1653
perfectibilist1798
perfectibilian1816
perfectibilarian1852
perfectibilitarian1873
perfectabilitarian1930
1816 T. L. Peacock Headlong Hall i. 4 These four persons were, Mr. Foster, the perfectibilian; Mr. Escot, the deteriorationist; Mr. Jenkison, the statu-quo-ite, [etc.].
1832 Fraser's Mag. 6 499 Every unwashed artisan has become..a philosopher, a perfectibilian, and so forth.
1930 A. Cruse Englishman & his Bks. viii. 134 The perfectibilians were in a large majority, and no one seems really to have grappled with the question as to why..mankind was still..so very far from its promised perfection.
1989 W. St. Clair Godwins & Shelleys (1990) 190 They were mistaken, the perfectibilian replied.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1816