Ism

-ism - a suffix used to create new nouns using the following rules:

1. doctrine, theory or religion (e.g. evolutionism, pacifism, anglicanism)
2. theory developed by (e.g. Marxism, Leninism, Pavlovianism)
3. movement (e.g. feminism, globalism, antidisestablishmentarianism)
4. action, process or practice (e.g. terrorism, baptism)
5. characteristic, quality or origin (e.g. heroism, Anglicism, sensualism)
6. state or condition (e.g. pauperism)
7. excess or disease (e.g. botulism, strychninism)
8. prejudice, or bias (e.g. racism)
9. other (e.g. organism)

In reference to doctrines, theories or prejudice, some people preceive a derogatory meaning implied by this suffix (e.g. stalinism, racism, etc.)

See also Isms.

/Talk?