-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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Ism \Ism\, n. [See ism, above.]

A doctrine or theory; especially, a wild or visionary theory. --E. Everett.

The world grew light-headed, and forth came a spawn of isms which no man can number. --S. G. Goodrich.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)