Ism \Ism\, n. [See ism, above.]
A doctrine or theory; especially, a wild or visionary theory.
--E. Everett.
[1913 Webster]
The world grew light-headed, and forth came a spawn of isms which no man can number. --S. G. Goodrich. Ismaelian
-ism \-ism\ [F. -isme, or L. -ismus, Gr. ?.]
A suffix indicating an act, a process, the result of an act
or a process, a state; also, a characteristic (as a theory,
doctrine, idiom, etc.); as, baptism, galvanism, organism,
hypnotism, socialism, sensualism, Anglicism.
[1913 Webster]
ism
noun1: a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school [syn: doctrine, philosophy, philosophical system, school of thought, ism]
31 Moby Thesaurus words for "ism": Weltanschauung, adherents, articles of religion, catechism, church, class, communion, confession, credenda, credo, creed, cult, cultism, denomination, disciples, doctrinal statement, faith, followers, formulated belief, gospel, ideology, mystique, order, persuasion, political faith, political philosophy, religion, school, sect, system of belief, world view
ISM Industrial, Science, Medical [ = 2,4 GHz ] (WLAN)
ISM Intel Server Management (Intel)
Define Ism and 150,000 other terms at dictionary.net