-ism, -ismus

(Greek, ismos; Latin, ismus: a suffix: belief in, practice of, condition of, process, characteristic behavior or manner, abnormal state, distinctive feature or trait)

platitudinarianism
A condition in which a person is characterized by platitudes; that is, addicted to the use of platitudes or pointless, unoriginal, or empty comments or statements made as though they were significant or helpful.
platitudinism
plebeianism (noun)
The state, conduct, manners, or quality of being plebeian; vulgarity, that is, lacking taste and refinement.
pleiotropism, pleiotropy
1. The presence of multiple, seemingly unrelated, characters due to the action of a single genetic locus; pleiotropy, pleiotropia, polypheny.
2. A condition of being pleiotropic.
pleochroism, pleochroisms, pleochromatism
1. The property possessed by some crystals of exhibiting different colors, especially three different colors, when viewed along different axes.
2. The phenomenon of different colors appearing when certain crystals are viewed from different directions.
3. An optical phenomenon where due to double refraction of light by a colored gem or crystal, the light is divided into two paths which are polarized at a 90° angle to each other.

As the divided light follows different paths within the stone and are traveling at different speeds, they may have the result of differential selective absorption; therefore, when they leave the crystal they have different colors, making the stone appear to be of multiple colors.

Some stones show two colors or shades and are called dichroic, some show three and are trichroic. Gems are sometimes cut and set either to display pleochroism or to hide it, depending on the colors and their potential attractiveness.

plesiomorphism
1. Similarity in form.
2. Close to or nearly the same shape.
plumbism (s) (noun)
1. Another name for lead poisoning.
2. A toxic condition produced by the absorption of excessive lead into the system.
3. A diseased condition, produced by the absorption of lead, common among workers in this metal or in its compounds, as among painters, typesetters, etc.

It is characterised by various symptoms; such as, lead colic, lead line, and wrist drop.

pluralism (s), pluralisms (pl) (nouns)
1. A social-population system based on mutual respect for each other's cultures among various groups that make up a society, wherein subordinate groups do not have to forsake their lifestyle and traditions but, rather, can express their culture and participate in the larger society free of prejudice: "Esteban appreciates the pluralism of the town in which he and his family are living."
2. A community in which people of different religious beliefs and practices, or various races, etc. can live together and all them can continue to have their different interests, traditions, and social life styles: "There are some nations that still do not allow pluralism to exist."
pneumatism (s) (noun) (no pl)
Pneuma; a vapor that was associated with life: Dating back to ancient Alexandria in the school of medicine, the belief of pneumatism was an initial attempt to explain respiration or breathing, which is certainly a life-giving criterion.
pococurantism (s) (noun), pococurantisms (pl)
1. A careless or indifferent attitude or behavior.
2. Caring little; indifferent; nonchalant.
polyalcoholism
Intoxication or poisoning by a mixture of different alcohols.
polycratism (s) (noun), polycratisms (pl)
A kind of government by many rulers; polyarchy: In comparison to a monocracy type of government, polycratism involves different persons, although there may be a leader at the top.
polydactylism
Having more than the normal number of fingers or toes.
polydemonism
The belief in many evil spirits.
polydiabolism
Belief in many devils.