-ism
-ism (/-ˌɪzəm/) is a suffix in many English words, originally derived from the Ancient Greek suffix -ισμός (-ismós), and reached English through the Latin -ismus, and the French -isme. It is used to create abstract nouns of action, state, condition, or doctrine, and is often used to describe philosophies, theories, religions, social movements, artistic movements, lifestyles, behaviors, scientific phenomena, or medical conditions.
Look up -ism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
The concept of an -ism may resemble that of a grand narrative.
Skeptics of any given -isms can quote the dictum attributed to Eisenhower: "All -isms are wasms".
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