Continuism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A philosophical or scientific view holding that development and change proceed in an unbroken, gradual sequence rather than through abrupt leaps
2. The belief that processes, whether natural or historical, unfold smoothly and without sudden discontinuities or revolutionary breaks
3. A doctrine that emphasizes steady, uninterrupted progression in nature, history, or thought, rejecting the idea of sharp transitions

Etymology: "Continuism" is a calque, meaning a word-for-word translation, of the Spanish "continuismo." It is built from "continue" and the suffix "-ism," so the English term follows the same pattern as the Spanish, with the Spanish word supplying the model. The Spanish original, "continuismo," refers to the political idea of keeping a leader or regime in power beyond its constitutional limits, or of preserving the existing system without change. The English term carries the same sense, and its parts are easy to read: "continue" supplies the idea of carrying on, and "-ism" marks a doctrine or practice.