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-ism

 - 4 dictionary results

-ism

 
Use -ism in a Sentence
a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nouns from verbs (baptism); on this model, used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion or adherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism).
Compare -ist, -ize.

Origin:
< Gk -ismos, -isma n. suffixes, often directly, often through L -ismus, -isma, sometimes through F -isme, G -ismus (all ult. < Gk)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To -ism
-ism  
suff.  

  1. Action; process; practice: terrorism.

  2. Characteristic behavior or quality: heroism.

    1. State; condition; quality: pauperism.

    2. State or condition resulting from an excess of something specified: strychninism.

    3. Doctrine; theory; system of principles: pacifism.

    4. An attitude of prejudice against a given group: racism.

  4. Distinctive or characteristic trait: Latinism.

    1. Doctrine; theory; system of principles: pacifism.

    2. An attitude of prejudice against a given group: racism.


[Middle English -isme, from Old French, from Latin -ismus, from Greek -ismos, n. suff.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

-ism 
suffix forming nouns of action, state, condition, doctrine, from Fr. -isme, from L. -isma, from Gk. -isma, from stem of verbs in -izein. Used as an independent word, chiefly disparagingly, from 1680.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

-ism suff.

  1. Action, process; practice: vegetarianism.

  2. Characteristic behavior or quality: puerilism.

  3. State; condition; quality: senilism.

  4. State or condition resulting from an excess of something specified: strychninism.

  5. Doctrine; theory; system of principles: Darwinism.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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