-ist
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 certain principles, doctrines, etc.: apologist; dramatist; machinist; novelist; realist; socialist; Thomist.
Origin of -ist
Middle English -iste < Latin -ista < Greek -istēs; in some words, representing French -iste, German -ist, Italian -ista, etc., ≪ Latin < Greek, as above
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
-ist
suffix
Word Origin for -ist
via Old French from Latin -ista, -istēs, from Greek -istēs
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