catharsis

== English == === Alternative forms === katharsis (archaic) === Etymology === From Ancient Greek κάθαρσις (kátharsis, “cleansing, purging”), from καθαίρω (kathaírō, “I cleanse”). Coined in the dramatic-emotional sense by Aristotle. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kəˈθɑːsɪs/ (US) IPA(key): /kəˈθɑɹˌsɪs/ === Noun === catharsis (countable and uncountable, plural catharses) (drama) A release of emotional tension after an overwhelming vicarious experience, resulting in the purging or purification of the emotions, as through watching a dramatic production (especially a tragedy). Any release of emotional tension to the same effect, more widely. A purification or cleansing, especially emotional. (psychology) A therapeutic technique to relieve tension by reestablishing the association of an emotion with the memory or idea of the event that first caused it, and then eliminating it by complete expression (called the abreaction). (medicine) Purging of the digestive system. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== cathartic ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === archaists, stasiarch == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from Ancient Greek κάθαρσις (kátharsis). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ka.taʁ.sis/ === Noun === catharsis f (invariable) (psychology) catharsis (drama) catharsis ==== Related terms ==== cathartique === Further reading === “catharsis”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French catharsis. === Noun === catharsis n (uncountable) catharsis ==== Declension ====