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masochism

 - 6 dictionary results

mas⋅och⋅ism

  [mas-uh-kiz-uhm, maz-]
Use masochism in a Sentence
–noun
1. Psychiatry. the condition in which sexual gratification depends on suffering, physical pain, and humiliation.
2. gratification gained from pain, deprivation, degradation, etc., inflicted or imposed on oneself, either as a result of one's own actions or the actions of others, esp. the tendency to seek this form of gratification.
3. the act of turning one's destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself.
4. the tendency to find pleasure in self-denial, submissiveness, etc.
Origin:
1890–95; named after L. von Sacher-Masoch, who described it; see -ism

Related forms:
mas⋅och⋅ist, noun
mas⋅och⋅is⋅tic, adjective
mas⋅och⋅is⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To masochism
mas·och·ism   (mās'ə-kĭz'əm)   
n.  

  1. The deriving of sexual gratification, or the tendency to derive sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused.

  2. The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from being humiliated or mistreated, either by another or by oneself.

  3. A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.


[After Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), Austrian novelist.]
mas'och·ist n., mas'och·is'tic adj., mas'och·is'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

masochism [(mas-uh-kiz-uhm)]

Abnormal behavior characterized by deriving sexual gratification from being subjected to pain. More loosely, masochism refers to deriving any pleasure from experiencing pain. (Compare sadism.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

masochism 
"sexual pleasure in being hurt or abused," 1893, from Ger. Masochismus, coined 1883 by Ger. neurologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1840-1902), from name of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-95), Austrian novelist who enshrined his submissive sexuality in "Venus in Furs."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mas·och·ism
Pronunciation: 'mas-&-"kiz-&m, 'maz-
Function: noun
: a sexual perversion characterized by pleasure in beingsubjected to pain or humiliation especially by a love object —compare ALGOLAGNIA, SADISM —mas·och·is·tic /"mas-&-'kis-tik, "maz-/ adjective —mas·och·is·ti·cal·ly /"mas-&-'kis-ti-k(&-)lE, "maz-/ adverb
Saácher–Maásoch /'zäk-&r-'mäz-ok/, Leopold von (1836–1895), Austrian novelist. Sacher-Masoch is most famous for his erotic novels. In these novels thecharacters dwell at length on sexual pleasure derived from pain. The subject matter reflects Sacher-Masoch's personal life. He had two wives and several mistresses with whom he acted out the sexualfantasies described in his fictional works. Venus in Furs (1870), his most widely read work, reflects his own fetish for furs. By 1893 masochism was an established medical term.
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

masochism mas·och·ism (mās'ə-kĭz'əm)
n.

  1. The act or an instance of deriving sexual gratification from being physically or emotionally abused.

  2. A psychological disorder in which sexual gratification is derived from being physically or emotionally abused.

  3. The act or an instance of deriving pleasure from being offended, dominated, or mistreated.

  4. The tendency to seek such mistreatment.

mas'och·ist n.
mas'och·is'tic adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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