ataraxia

noun

at·​a·​rax·​ia ˌa-tə-ˈrak-sē-ə How to pronounce ataraxia (audio)
variants or less commonly ataraxy
ˈa-t​ə-​ˌrak-​sē How to pronounce ataraxia (audio)
: calmness untroubled by mental or emotional disquiet
The highest goal of an Epicurean disciple was ataraxia—tranquility of mind.—Erich Segal
Hermann Cohen contrasted the prophets' appreciation of the urgencies of history to the teachings of Stoicism enjoining ataraxia, the ideal of tranquillity to be attained by freeing oneself from emotional concerns and anxiety.—Paul Mendes-Flohr
ataraxic
ˌa-tə-ˈrak-sik How to pronounce ataraxia (audio)
adjective

Examples of ataraxia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Ancient Greeks called it ataraxia, and the Epicureans said yes. —Stephen Miller, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2020

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Greek; Middle French ataraxie, borrowed from Greek ataraxía, from atáraktos "calm, unexcited" (from a- a- entry 2 + taraktós, verbal adjective of tarássein, (Attic) taráttein "to stir up, disturb, agitate mentally or emotionally") + -ia -y entry 2; tarássein going back to Indo-European *dhr̥h2gh-i̯é-, zero grade ablaut derivative of *dhreh2gh- "be stirred up, become turbulent," whence also Old Church Slavic razdražǫ, razdražiti "to provoke, make angry," Lithuanian dérgiu, dérgti "to make dirty, besmirch, defame"

Note: Greek tarássein has an alternate present thrássein/thráttein, aorist infinitive thrâxai, formed perhaps from an accentual variant *dhŕ̥h2gh-.

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ataraxia was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near ataraxia

at a rate of knots

ataraxia

at arm's length

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ataraxia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ataraxia. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

ataraxia

noun
at·​a·​rax·​ia ˌat-ə-ˈrak-sē-ə How to pronounce ataraxia (audio)
variants or ataraxy
ˈat-ə-ˌrak-sē How to pronounce ataraxia (audio)
plural ataraxias or ataraxies
: calmness untroubled by mental or emotional disquiet
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