■ suffix forming personal nouns and some related adjectives:
1》 denoting an adherent of a system of beliefs expressed by nouns ending in - ism : hedonist.
↘denoting a person who subscribes to a prejudice or practises discrimination: sexist.
2》 denoting a member of a profession or business activity: dentist.
↘denoting a person who uses something: flautist.
↘denoting a person who does something expressed by a verb ending in -ize : plagiarist.
Origin
from OFr. ~e , L. ~a , from Gk ~ēs .