catharsis
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ca·thar·sis
(kə-thär′sĭs)n. pl. ca·thar·ses (-sēz)
1. Medicine Purgation, especially for the digestive system.
2. A purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear, described by Aristotle as an effect of tragic drama on its audience.
3. A release of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, that restores or refreshes the spirit.
4. Psychology
a. A technique used to relieve tension and anxiety by bringing repressed feelings and fears to consciousness.
b. The therapeutic result of this process; abreaction.
[New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein, to purge, from katharos, pure.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
catharsis
(kəˈθɑːsɪs)n, pl -ses
1. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) (in Aristotelian literary criticism) the purging or purification of the emotions through the evocation of pity and fear, as in tragedy
2. (Psychoanalysis) psychoanal the bringing of repressed ideas or experiences into consciousness, thus relieving tensions. See also abreaction
3. (Medicine) purgation, esp of the bowels
[C19: New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein to purge, purify]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ca•thar•sis
(kəˈθɑr sɪs)n., pl. -ses (-siz)
1. the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. through a work of art, as of tragedy or music.
2. Med. purgation.
3. Psychiatry. a discharge of repressed or pent-up emotions resulting in the alleviation of symptoms or the elimination of the condition.
[1795–1805; < New Latin < Greek kátharsis a cleansing, derivative of katharós pure]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
catharsis
(in the Aristotelian concept of art, especially with reference to tragic drama) the purging of the emotions, traditionally said to be those of pity and fear. See also psychology.
See also: Drama-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
catharsis
The release of pent-up feelings and repressed emotions after a subject has begun to talk about problems during analysis.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
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| Noun | 1. |  catharsis - (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensionsdepth psychology, psychoanalysis, analysis - a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud; "his physician recommended psychoanalysis" |
| 2. | catharsis - purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
catharsis
noun release, cleansing, purging, purification, purgation, abreaction Writing acted as a catharsis for all his painful feelings.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
catharsis
nounMedicine. The act or process of discharging bodily wastes or foreign substances:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
catharsis
n
(Med) → Darmreinigung f, → Darmentleerung f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
ca·thar·sis
n. catarsis.
1. acción purgativa;
2. análisis con el fin terapéutico de liberar al paciente de un estado de ansiedad.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
catharsis
n (psych) catarsis fEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.