[f. as prec. + -IST: cf. F. communiste.]
1. An adherent of the theory of communism.
1841–2. [see 3].
1843. Barmby, in New Age, 1 Dec., 133. The Communist, without denying it [the Communion Table] has this meaning, gives it a higher signification, by holding it as a type of that holy millennial communitive life.
a. 1849. Eben. Elliott, Poet. Wks. (1876), II. 202. What is a communist?—One who hath yearnings For equal division of unequal earnings: Idler or bungler, or both, he is willing To fork out his penny and pocket your shilling.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 121. The citizens, if not actually communists, are in spirit communistic.
1833. F. Harrison, in Pall Mall G., 28 Sept., 2/1. The logical communists … bitterly complain of nationalization of the land as a device of the bourgeois to save the nationalization of capital.
transf. and fig. 1844. Emerson, Yng. Amer., Wks. (Bohn), II. 297. It [Destiny] may be styled … a terrible communist, reserving all profits to the community, without dividend to individuals.
1878. Tait & Stewart, Unseen Univ., iii. 126. The tendency of heat is towards equalisation; heat is par excellence the communist of our universe.
¶ 2. erroneously. A supporter of the Commune of Paris; a COMMUNARD.
(So constantly in English newspapers.)
1870. Daily News, 7 Oct. The Communists mistake the times, they are not now in 1792. To-day Paris needs France, and cannot do without her.
3. attrib. or adj. Of the communists; communistic.
1841. Barmby [founded] The London Communist Propaganda Society.
1842. Oracle of Reason, 13 Aug., 280. Proclamation to the inhabitants of Cheltenham … Signed Goodwyn Barmby, Pontifarch of the Communist Church.
1848. W. E. Forster, in T. W. Reid, Life (1888), I. vii. 246. The Communist doctrine of not paying a man in proportion to his work.
1850. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 119. The Communist party would then have tried conclusions with him [the President of the French Republic].
