-ism

The English suffix -ism was first used to form a noun of action from a verb, as in baptism, from baptein, a Greek word meaning "to dip". Its usage was later extended to signify larger organized systems and concepts —in belief, ideology, doctrine, and ritual practice.

Related Topics:
English - Suffix - Noun - Greek

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The first recorded usage of the suffix ism as a separate word in its own right was in 1680. By the nineteenth century it was being used by Thomas Carlyle to signify a pre-packaged ideology. It was later used in this sense by such writers as Julian Huxley and George Bernard Shaw.

Related Topics:
1680 - Thomas Carlyle - Ideology - Julian Huxley - George Bernard Shaw

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In the present day, it appears in the title of a standard survey of political thought, Today's ISMS by William Ebenstein, first published in the 1950s, and now in its 11th edition.

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The -ism suffix can be used to express the following concepts:

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• doctrine, theory or religion (e.g. pacifism)
• theory developed by an individual (e.g. Marxism)
• political movement (e.g. feminism)
• action, process or practice (e.g. terrorism)
• characteristic, quality or origin (e.g. heroism)
• state or condition (e.g. pauperism)
• excess or disease (e.g. botulism)
• prejudice or bias (e.g. racism)
• characteristic speech patterns (e.g. Yogiism)
 
-ism: See also ►