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ism - 5 dictionary results

ism

[iz-uhm]
–noun
a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice: This is the age of isms.

Origin:
extracted from words with the suffix -ism

-ism

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)
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

Ism\, n. [See ism, above.] A doctrine or theory; especially, a wild or visionary theory. --E. Everett.

The world grew light-headed, and forth came a spawn of isms which no man can number. --S. G. Goodrich.
ISM
interstellar medium
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