[1585–95; idiot + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1585–95. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: aberration, corridor, filament, keyhole, puzzle-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)
idiotism in American English2
(ˈidiəˌtɪzəm)
noun
obsolete
an idiom
Word origin
[1580–90; ‹ L idiōtismus ‹ Gk idiōtismós a vulgar phrase, peculiar way of speaking]This word is first recorded in the period 1580–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: academic, bomb, category, piggyback, scramble