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DictionaryRoot: -ism
English

-ism

a practice, system, process, or condition

Forms

  • -ism

Origin

Through French -isme and Latin -ismus from Greek -ismos.

Note

The ending does not by itself imply a political or religious doctrine.

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An ancient Greek worshipper presents an offering at a shared altar before three distinct deity statues: Zeus with a thunderbolt, Athena with helmet and shield, and Poseidon with a trident.
noun

polytheism

PAH-lee-thee-iz-um/ˈpɑːliθiɪzəm/

Belief in or worship of more than one god.

Etymology
polyGreekmany or much
+theGreekgod, deity
+ismEnglisha practice, system, process, or condition

The roots describe “many gods”; the ending makes this a name for a religious belief. Here “many” means more than one, without specifying a particular number of gods.

Full entry

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