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Masochism

3 stages from German to English.

Today it means pleasure, especially sexual, from one's own pain or humiliation

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
Sacher-Masoch
German · 1870
"a family name"
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, born in Lemberg (Lviv) in 1836, wrote the novel Venus in Furs (1870)
2
Stage 2 of 3
Masochismus
German · 1890
"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 of 3
masochism
English · 1893
"pleasure in suffering"
entered English through the 1893 translation of Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis
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Read the full story

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.