the beliefs, principles, or practices of the Fabian Society
Derived forms
Fabianist (ˈFabianist)
noun, adjective
Fabianism in American English
(ˈfeibiəˌnɪzəm)
noun
the theories of economic and social reform advocated by the Fabian Society
Word origin
[1885–90; fabian + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1885–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: retread, sensitization, toner, upsweep, zoom-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)