a. and sb. [ad. mod.L. Utopian-us (More, 1516): see prec. and -AN.]
A. adj. 1. Of or belonging to the imaginary island of Utopia or its people.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, Ep. (1895), 1. This boke of the vtopian commen wealth.
1556. More’s Utopia, Printer to Rdr. (Arb.), 168. The Vtopian Alphabete.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Sir G. Nonsence, Wks. (1630), A aj b. He … began to declare in the Vtopian speech, what I haue here … Translated.
1633. Rowley, Match at Midn., V. I 1 b. Two Vtopian Trunks, full of gold and Iewels.
1681. (title) A Pleasant Battle between two Lap-dogs of the Utopian Court.
1808. Cayley, trans. More’s Utopia, II. 7. That I should anticipate him in what belongs to the Utopian Commonwealth.
1895. Lupton, More’s Utopia, 117. On this and other repellent features of the Utopian character, as drawn by More.
† b. Having no known location; existing nowhere. Obs. rare.
1609. in Capt. Smith, Wks. (Arb.), 637. It hath beene to the Spaniards more fearefull then an Vtopian Purgatory.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 60. They must be imagined to subsist in certain intermundane spaces and Utopian regions without the world.
1689. Swift, Ode to Sir W. Temple, i. Search out this Utopian ground, Virtue’s terra incognita.
† c. Having no assigned diocese or sphere of work. Obs.–1
1709. Bingham, Antiq., IV. vi. The Nullatenenses of latter Ages, as Panormitan calls Titular and Utopian Bishops.
2. Possessing or regarded as having impossibly or extravagantly ideal conditions in respect of politics, customs, social organization, etc.
In this and next sense occas. with small letter.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 520. Yea, no Vtopian State comparable to theirs.
1647. Mercurius Anti-pragmaticus, No. 6. 4. They are like to wander forty yeeres … ere they arrive in their Utopian Paradise.
1651. C. Walker, Hist., III. 14. To these … they entrust the Administration of this Utopian Commonwealth.
1768. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 302. The introduction of an Utopian state.
1782. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint., IV. 284. When he was laying out so magnificent, charitable, and philosophic an Utopian villa.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! xix. When we have babbled together of Utopian governments in days which are now dreams to me.
1856. H. Rogers, Ess., II. viii. 380. Considered as a possible political structure … Plato’s ‘Republic’ deserves to be considered the most Utopian that ever entered the mind of man.
b. Involving, based or founded on, imaginary or chimerical perfection; impossibly ideal, visionary.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., To Rdr. 58. Vtopian parity is a thing to be wished for rather then effected.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., App. 1. A new Utopian absolute Royall Prerogative … not bottomed on the Lawes of God or the Realm.
1646. J. Cook, Vind. Law, 28. Thats but a Vtopian consideration, a possibility which never comes into Act.
1659. Bp. Walton, Consid. Considered, 72. This, I doubt, will prove an Utopian conceit.
1762. Kames, Elem. Crit., ii. (1774), I. 35. For confuting such Utopian systems without the fatigue of reasoning.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, iii. 59. He indulges himself in an Utopian sketch of a perfect government.
1806. H. Siddons, Maid, Wife, & W., III. 6. The sentiments which inspired me may be laughed at as Utopian.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, ix. Marriage! I cannot bear the word: it sounds so silly and utopian.
1877. Burroughs, Taxation, 22. They have regarded any attempt to practise absolute equality as Utopian.
3. of persons: That belongs to or dwells in a Utopia. rare–1.
1620. J. Taylor (Water P.), Jack a Lent, Wks. (1630), 113/2. As Nymshag an ancient Vtopian Philosopher declares.
b. That conceives, proposes, or advocates impracticably ideal projects or schemes for social welfare, etc.; believing in or aiming at the perfecting of polity or social conditions.
1597–8. Donne, Lett. to Sir H. Wotton, 46. If men … Durst looke for themselves … They would like strangers greet themselves, seeing than Utopian youth, growne old Italian.
1661. Cowley, Cromwell, Wks. 1906, II. 373. You are … a Theoretical Common-wealths-man, an Utopian Dreamer.
1680. Butler, Characters (1908), 24. A Republican is a civil Fanatic, an Utopian Senator.
1691. Baxter, Nat. Ch., xii. 52. As capable of Governing one Kingdom, as an Utopian College of Bishops (that some dream of).
1857. W. Smith, Thorndale, V. iii. (1858), 427. An Eclectic and Utopian Philosopher.
1868. Praed, Water-farm., xi. 114. We are not so Utopian as to assert that [etc.].
B. sb. 1. A native or inhabitant of Utopia; a dweller in some Utopia. Also Comb.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, II. (1895), 218. The wyttes therefore of the Vtopians … be maruelous quycke.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxxvi. § 4. Such suttle opinions as few but Vtopians are likely to fall into.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. viii. § 1. They liued Vtopian-like, saue that they vsed no other occupation than Warre.
1684. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia, Pref. A 7. The precaution used in Marriages among the Utopians.
1771. J. Adams, Diary, 10 Nov. The good humor,… and wisdom of the Utopians, is charming.
1857. W. Smith, Thorndale, IV. v. (1858), 312. I know not precisely how his Utopians intend to deal with war.
1905. Edin. Rev., Oct., 426. The admiration of the Utopians … was by no means confined to the strictly classical authors.
2. One who conceives, proposes, or introduces schemes supposed or intended to bring about improved or perfect social and political conditions, etc.; an advocate of social reform.
a. 1873. Lytton, in Life (1883), I. 101. My grandfather … in youth … was a Utopian, and remained to the last much more than a ‘Whig.’
1878. Seeley, Stein, II. 363. Stein … was never the utopian here described.
1887. J. C. Morison, Serv. Man, p. xxiv. He looks with coldness on Utopians who are equally ignorant of capital, labour, or hard work.
Hence Utopianist, = UTOPIAN sb. 2.
1854. J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), II. xxix. 556. What seemed a crime to the eyes of Utopianists.
1876. Contemp. Rev., xxviii. 447. Neither abandoned nor disregarded by a few devoted Utopianists.
