therapy

therapy (ˈθɛrəpɪ)

—n , pl -pies
	a. the treatment of physical, mental, or social disorders or disease
	b. (in combination): physiotherapy; electrotherapy

[C19: from New Latin therapia, from Greek therapeia attendance; see therapeutic]

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

therapy

1846, "medical treatment of disease," from Mod.L. therapia, from Gk. therapeia "curing, healing," from therapeuein "to cure, treat."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

therapy ther·a·py (thěr'ə-pē)
n.

The treatment of illness or disability.
Psychotherapy.
A healing power or quality.

American Heritage

Cultural Dictionary

therapy definition

Treatment intended to cure or alleviate an illness or injury, whether physical or mental.

Example sentences

Radiation therapy may be used as an initial treatment for localized prostate

cancer.

One treatment commonly administered with a catheter is cardiac ablation therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was long called a treatment in search of diseases.

Images of a human heart showing increased blood flow after treatment with shock

wave therapy.

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aversive conditioning bibliotherapy chrysotherapy electroconvulsive therapy electroshock encounter

Matching Quote

"If psychoanalysis emerged just before World War I to deal with the repressions of Puritanism, the hedonistic age has its counterpart in sensitivity training, encounter groups, "joy therapy," and similar techniques that have two characteristics essentially derived from a hedonistic mood: they are conducted almost exclusively in groups; and they try to "unblock" the individual by physical contact, by groping, touching, fondling, manipulating. Where the earlier intention of psychoanalysis was to enable the patient to achieve self-insight and thereby redirect his life—an aim inseparable from a moral context—the newer therapies are entirely instrumental and psychologistic; their aim is to "free" the person from inhibitions and restraints so that he or she can more easily express his impulses and feelings."

-Daniel Bell