a person who records, transmits, or is versed in traditions
Word origin
[1660–70; tradition + -ist]This word is first recorded in the period 1660–70. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cantilever, indicator, interleave, joke, mainstream-ist is a suffix of nouns, often corresponding to verbs ending in -ize or nouns ending in -ism, that denote a person who practices or is concerned with something, or holds certainprinciples, doctrines, etc. Other words that use the affix -ist include: apologist, machinist, novelist, realist, socialist