catharsis
pronunciation
How to pronounce catharsis in British English:
UK [kəˈθɑ:sɪs]
How to pronounce catharsis in American English:
US [kəˈθɑrsɪs]
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- Noun:
- (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions
- purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels
Word Origin
- catharsis (n.)
- 1803, "bodily purging," from Latinized form of Greek katharsis "purging, cleansing," from stem of kathairein "to purify, purge," from katharos "pure, clear of dirt, clean, spotless; open, free; clear of shame or guilt; purified" (with most of the extended senses now found in Modern English clear, clean, pure), which is of unknown origin. Originally medical in English; of emotions from 1872; psychotherapy sense first recorded 1909, in Brill's translation of Freud.
Example
- 1. In the case of susan boyle , it brought tears , elation and a gripping collective catharsis .
- 2. For eurosceptics , in particular , it was a moment of catharsis after decades of suspicion and resentment .
- 3. Many people believe in the " catharsis hypothesis " and think that expressing anger is healthy-minded and relieves their feelings .
- 4. The broadcasts indicated pyongyang was preparing the nation for its moment of catharsis .
- 5. Is this film , in which the boy victor refuses his father 's exhortations to play ball and hides in the attic with his born-again dog , another form of catharsis ?