-ism

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Contents

English

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Etymology

From Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismos), a suffix that forms abstract nouns of action, state, condition, doctrine; from Ancient Greek -ισμα (-isma), from stem of verbs in -ιζειν (-izein).

Pronunciation

Suffix

-ism

  1. (Can we verify() this sense?) the action or result of a verb
  2. a principle, belief or movement
    conservatism (from conservative)
    externalism
    masculism (from masculus, Latin for male)
  3. a form of prejudice or discrimination, either for or against a group
    alphabetism (from alphabet)
    nationism (from nation)
    racism (from race)
    religionism (from religion)
    sexism (from sex)
    sexualism (from sexuality)
    ableism (from able)
    heterosexism (from heterosexual)
  4. the defining attribute of a person or thing
    Shakespeareanism (coined after William Shakespeare)
  5. (Can we verify() this sense?) a disorder
    dwarfism, giantism
    hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism

Usage notes

The suffix -ism is productive in English (new English words are produced by adding the suffix -ism). However, many English words suffixed with -ism are not English coinages, but rather borrowings of words that already include the cognate suffix, often French -isme or Latin or German -ismus. Almost all classical Latin words ending in "ismus" are derived from classical Greek words ending in "ισμός".

Derived terms

English words suffixed with -ism

Related terms

Romanian

Etymology

Latin -ismus

Suffix

-ism n.

  1. ism (indicates a belief or principle)
    creştinism - Christianity
    anarhism - anarchism

Declension

declension of -ism
gender n. uncountable
Nominative/Accusative (Unarticulated) -ism
Nominative/Accusative (Definite articulation) -ismul
Genitive/Dative (Definite articulation) -ismului

Related terms

 

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