cathexis
noun
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You might suspect that cathexis derives from a word for "emotion," but in actuality the key concept is "holding." Cathexis comes to us by way of New Latin (Latin as used after the medieval period in scientific description or classification) from the Greek word kathexis, meaning "holding." It can ultimately be traced back (through katechein, meaning "to hold fast, occupy") to the Greek verb echein, meaning "to have" or "to hold." Cathexis first appeared in print in 1922 in a book about Freud's psychological theories (which also established the plural as cathexes, as is consistent with Latin), and it is still often used in scientific and specifically psychological contexts.
Examples of cathexis in a Sentence
Janey Starling, refinery29.com, 10 Apr. 2020
There’s a word for this loss of self in devotion: cathexis.
—Janey Starling, refinery29.com, 10 Apr. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near cathexis
Cite this Entry
“Cathexis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cathexis. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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cathexis
noun
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