Lexic.us

Definition of Catharsis

1. Noun. (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions.

2. Noun. Purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels.

Definition of Catharsis

1. n. A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

2. n. The process of relieving an abnormal excitement by reëstablishing the association of the emotion with the memory or idea of the event that first caused it, and of eliminating it by complete expression (called the abreaction).

Definition of Catharsis

1. Noun. (context: 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). Coined in this sense by Aristotle. ¹

2. Noun. Any release of emotional tension to the same effect, more widely. ¹

3. Noun. A purification or cleansing, especially emotional. ¹

4. Noun. (context: psychology) A therapeutic technique to relieve tension. ¹

5. Noun. (context: medicine) Purging of the digestive system. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Catharsis

1. [n -THARSES]

Medical Definition of Catharsis

1. The release of ideas, thoughts, and repressed material from the unconscious, accompanied by an emotional response and relief. (12 Dec 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Catharsis

catfishers catfishes catfishlike catflap catflaps catfood catgirl catgirls catgut catguts

catharpin catharping catharpings catharpins catharses catharsis (current term) cathartic cathartical cathartically catharticals

cathartick cathartics cathartid cathartin cathartine cathead catheads cathect cathected cathectic

Literary usage of Catharsis

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Oxford Medicine by Henry Asbury Christian, James Mackenzie (1920)
"It is worth emphasizing that persistence is the secret of success in reducing renal edema by catharsis. We have seen success come from persistence after ..."

2. A Manual of Pharmacology and Its Applications to Therapeutics and Toxicology by Torald Hermann Sollmann (1922)
"catharsis on Excretion.—The possibility of sparing the kidneys by catharsis is illustrated by data of Myers and Fine, 1919, on the percentile ratio of the ..."

3. Educational Psychology by Edward Lee Thorndike (1913)
"THE DOCTRINE OF catharsis A few quotations may serve to present this doctrine fairly. "Rudimentary organs need to be not only developed, but often used in ..."

4. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1897)
"... -catharsis in Broncho-pneumonia.—DK. E. HOUEL reports a single instance of the successful use of this method in a child, aged six months. ..."

5. The Poetic Mind by Frederick Clarke Prescott (1922)
"CHAPTER XV THE POETIC MADNESS AND catharsis IIN taking up the poetic madness I must first note that it has been the subject of much confused and even ..."

6. Surgical After-treatment: A Manual of the Conduct of Surgical Convalescence by Le Roi Goddard Crandon, Albert Ehrenfried (1912)
"catharsis For the Elective Operation.—The patient is told to take a slightly increased dose of his usual cathartic morning or night, the day before, ..."

7. Useful Cathartics: A Series of Articles on the Use and Abuse of Cathartics by Bernard Fantus (1920)
"... CHAPTER XII CALOMEL catharsis Mild mercurous chlorid is the typical cholagogue cathartic, a term that might be applied to those agents that ..."

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