English
cathexis
Cathexis comes from Ancient Greek κάθεξις ‘holding, retention’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκάθεξιςkáthexis‘holding, retention’
- Englishearliest quotation 2013cathexis
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκάθεξιςkáthexis‘holding, retention’
- Englishearliest quotation 2013cathexis
Earliest quotation: 2013, Isher-Paul Sahni, More than Horseplay: “How contemporary artistic performances elicit cathexis on the part…”
The story
The term entered the English language as a translation for the common everyday German word Besetzung, which in the context of psychoanalysis means "occupation" in the sense of a position or something being occupied or filled, and not a military occupation of a place or the filling of job positions (although it can also mean either of these in other contexts). (In English translations, a Greek word was used to be more scientific.)
Every English word from Ancient Greek κάθεξις
Today it means
noun The concentration of libido or emotional energy on a single object or idea.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek κάθεξις / cathexis