"made shut, not open," c. 1200, past-participle adjective from close (v.). Closed circuit "complete, unbroken (electrical) circuit" is attested from 1827; closed shop"workplace in which only union members are employed" is from 1904; closed system first recorded 1896 in William James as "complete and unalterable system (of doctrines, etc.)." Later used in a physical sense, "system in which the total mass or energy remains constant."

"the religious system founded by the Buddha in India," 1801, from Buddha + -ism.

"disease of the nervous system," 1827, from neuro- + -pathy. Related: Neuropath; neuropathic; neuropathist.

"the system or doctrine of having males at the center," 1915; see androcentric + -ism.

system of rail transportation using two sets of magnets, 1973, a contraction of magnetic levitation.

a coinage of historians, attested from 1773; see feudal + -ism. Feudal system attested from 1736.

in reference to major divisions of the nervous system, 1905, from para- (1) "beside" + sympathetic.

also multi-processor, "computer system with more than one processor," 1961, from multi- "many" + processor.

"relating to or promoting a monopoly or a system of monopolies," 1858; see monopoly + -istic.

1580s, from Greek ta hieroglyphika "ancient Egyptian writing system;" see hieroglyphic + -ics.