pacifism
UK[ˈpæsɪfɪzəm]US[ˈpæsəˌfɪzəm]
n
The belief that war and violence are morally wrong and that disputes should be settled by peaceful means.
n
The policy or practice of refusing to participate in war or military service.
Morpheme Breakdown
pac
ify
ism
pac
peace
ify
verb suffix
ism
doctrine
Etymology
The word "pacifism" is built upon the Latin root pac-, meaning "peace", which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root pag-/pak- meaning "to fasten, to make firm," an agreement or covenant being a "fastening" of terms. This root evolved into the Latin verb pacare, "to pacify or make peaceful," which gave rise to the English verb "pacify." By adding the Greek-derived suffix -ism, which denotes a distinctive doctrine or movement, the 20th-century term "pacifism" was formed. It thus logically names the doctrine (-ism) centered on the act of making peace (pacify-), concretizing the abstract belief in the rejection of war and the active pursuit of peaceful resolution.
Analysis
Structure: pac (peace) + ify (verb suffix) + ism (doctrine)
- pac: From Latin pax (genitive pacis), meaning "peace". It functions as the core root conveying the concept of peace.
- ify: A verb-forming suffix from Latin -ificare, meaning "to make". In this word, it is part of the base verb "pacify".
- ism: A noun-forming suffix from Greek -ismos, denoting a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy. It indicates the doctrine or belief system.
Examples
His pacifism led him to become a conscientious objector during the war.
The activist's life was dedicated to the principles of nonviolence and pacifism.
While respecting his pacifism, others argued that military intervention was sometimes necessary.