-ist

1. 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.

-ist

suffix

1. forming nouns a person who performs a certain action or is concerned with something specified

   soloist

   motorist

2. forming nouns a person who practises in a specific field

   typist

   physicist

3. forming nouns and adjectives a person who advocates a particular doctrine, system, etc, or relating to such a person or the doctrine advocated

   socialist

4. forming nouns and adjectives a person characterized by a specified trait, tendency, etc, or relating to such a person or trait

   purist

5. forming nouns and adjectives a person who is prejudiced on the basis specified

   sexist

   ageist

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ist¹

Middle English -iste < Latin -ista < Greek -istēs; in some words, representing French -iste, German -ist, Italian -ista, etc., ≪ Latin < Greek, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ist¹

via Old French from Latin -ista, -istēs, from Greek -istēs