sadism

sa·dism   (sā'dĭz'əm, sād'ĭz'-)    n.   The deriving of sexual gratification or the tendency to derive sexual gratification from inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others. The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty. Extreme cruelty. [After Comte Donatien Alphonse François de Sade.] sa'dist n., sa·dis'tic (sə-dĭs'tĭk) adj., sa·dis'ti·cal·ly adv.

Main Entry: sa·dism
Pronunciation: 'sA-"diz-&m, 'sad-"iz-
Function: noun
: a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by theinfliction of physical or mental pain on others (as on a love object) —compare ALGOLAGNIA, MASOCHISM —sa·dis·tic /s&-'dis-tik also sA- or sa-/ adjective —sa·dis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Sade /sod,/ Marquis de (ComteDonatien–Alphonse–François) (1740–1814), French soldier and writer. From the time that he was a young nobleman Sade consorted with prostitutes and developed a tastefor sexual perversions. He was imprisoned on several occasions for his harsh abuse of prostitutes and gross licentiousness. After arriving at the Bastille in 1784 he began writing erotic novels inwhich he gave full expression to his sexual fantasies. His most famous novel was The Adversities of Virtue (1787). His works are known for their graphic descriptions of sexual perversions. Hislast years were spent in an insane asylum at Charenton, where he wrote plays for his fellow inmates to perform. His compulsion for physically and sexually abusing others gave rise to the concept ofsadism.

sadism sa·dism (sā'dĭz'əm, sād'ĭz'-)
n.

1. The act or an instance of deriving sexual gratification from infliction of pain on others.

2. A psychological disorder in which sexual gratification is derived from infliction of pain on others.

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sa'dist n.
sa·dis'tic (sə-dĭs'tĭk) adj.