[1785–95; religion + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1785–95. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: edit, initiative, nitrogen, plateau, preemptive-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)