catharsis

Where does the word "catharsis" come from? It comes from Greek katharsis, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Catharsis’s story begins in Greek: katharsis meant “a cleansing, purification.” A cleansing, a purification, from kathairein (to purify). It reached English by 1800s as catharsis. Adopted for the emotional release and purification felt after intense experience, first described by Aristotle. Today, catharsis means a release of strong emotions, resulting in a feeling of relief.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient katharsis "a cleansing, purification", a cleansing, a purification, from kathairein (to purify).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s catharsis "emotional release and relief", adopted for the emotional release and purification felt after intense experience, first described by Aristotle.