integrationist

The word "integrationist" is a modern political and sociological compound. Its first element, "integration," traces back to the Latin verb integrare, meaning "to make whole or renew," itself derived from the adjective integer (whole, complete). The suffix "-ist," an agent-noun ending of Greek origin, was productively attached in English to form words for adherents of doctrines or policies. Thus, an "integrationist" is literally "one concerned with making whole," specifically in the context of mending societal divisions by advocating for the unification of segregated groups. The term gained prominence in the mid-20th century during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Structure: integration (noun) + ist (noun suffix) - integration: From Latin integrationem (a renewal, restoration), from integrare (to make whole, renew). In this word, it functions as the core noun meaning "the act or process of uniting or bringing together." - ist: A suffix of Greek origin (via Latin -ista, Greek -istēs), denoting a person who practices or is concerned with something, or who holds certain principles.