[iz-uh
m] 
| a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice: This is the age of isms. |
| 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). |
| ism (ĭz'əm) n. Informal A distinctive doctrine, system, or theory: "Formalism, by being an 'ism,' kills form by hugging it to death" (Peter Viereck). [From -ism.] |
-ism suff.
Action, process; practice: vegetarianism.
Characteristic behavior or quality: puerilism.
State; condition; quality: senilism.
State or condition resulting from an excess of something specified: strychninism.
Doctrine; theory; system of principles: Darwinism.
| ISM interstellar medium |
