A follower or supporter of William Jennings Bryan or his political ideology and philosophy.
Bryanite combines the name Bryan with the suffix '-ite' which denotes an adherent or follower of a particular person, ideology, or place. This suffix pattern appears in words like Marxist, Buddhist, and Brooklynite. The term was used during the era when Bryan was politically influential.
The '-ite' suffix is basically ancient slang for 'fan of'—it shows how language creates shorthand for complex political allegiances. Bryanites were passionate enough that their movement permanently shifted American political rhetoric toward populism.
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