[Ads-l] -ista

Bill Mullins amcombill at HOTMAIL.COM
Thu Jan 22 04:29:43 UTC 2026


The Dec 2025 updates for the OED included "-ista"


First sense: "Forming nouns denoting a supporter of a (typically left-wing) politician, party, or position indicated by the first element", with a first citation in 1982.


1920 Custer County Republican [Broken Bow, NE] 12 Feb 2/3
For the names and causes which have represented principles and policies in American history, and under whose control all our history has been written, Federalist, Republican, Democrat and Whig, they would substitute, after the Mexican pattern, Wilsonistas, Hooveristas, Fordistas, Debsistas and the like.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/671385607/?match=1&terms=hooverista



1972 New Orleans Times-Picayune 7 Jun 10/3
At other caucuses McGovernistas and blacks stood on chairs, waved their fists and shouted “power.”

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1255820191/?match=1&terms=mcgovernista







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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org


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