antirailwayist
|an-ti-rail-way-ist|
/ˌæn.tiˈreɪl.weɪ.ɪst/
opposed to railways
Etymology
'antirailwayist' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'anti-' + the compound 'railway' + the agent suffix '-ist' (meaning 'person associated with or performing an action').
'railway' is a compound of 'rail' + 'way'; 'rail' developed in Middle English (e.g. 'rayl'/'reil') from Old French forms for a bar or railing, while 'way' comes from Old English 'weg'. The modern coinage 'antirailwayist' follows English compounding and affixation patterns to mean a person opposed to railways.
The composite formation originally and straightforwardly meant 'a person against railways'; this basic sense remains unchanged in modern usage as a descriptive (and typically pejorative or technical) label.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is opposed to railways, railway construction, or the use of rail transport (often for political, environmental, economic, or local-interest reasons).
Several antirailwayists spoke at the hearing to protest the proposed regional line.
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Adjective 1
opposed to railways or the development/expansion of rail transport.
The antirailwayist sentiment in the countryside made new station plans unpopular.
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Last updated: 2025/09/08 15:54