masochism

Where does the word "masochism" come from? It comes from German Sacher-Masoch, passing through German before entering English (1893).

Masochism’s story begins in German: Sacher-Masoch meant “a family name.” Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, born in Lemberg (Lviv) in 1836, wrote the novel Venus in Furs (1870). Within German, it grew into Masochismus by 1890. Richard von Krafft-Ebing coined it in his 1890 study of sexual pathology, while Sacher-Masoch was still alive, reportedly to his displeasure. It reached English by 1893 as masochism. Entered English through the 1893 translation of Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis. Today, masochism means pleasure, especially sexual, from one's own pain or humiliation.

1. Stage 1 · German · 1870 Sacher-Masoch "a family name", Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, born in Lemberg (Lviv) in 1836, wrote the novel Venus in Furs (1870).
2. Stage 2 · German · 1890 Masochismus "pleasure in being hurt", Richard von Krafft-Ebing coined it in his 1890 study of sexual pathology, while Sacher-Masoch was still alive, reportedly to his displeasure.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1893 masochism "pleasure in suffering", entered English through the 1893 translation of Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis.