ecstasy English · revision 859

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛkstəsi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|extasie]], [[bor|fro|extasie]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-lat|extasis]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ἔκστασις|tr=ékstasis|t=displacement; astonishment; trance]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''existánai'' “to put out of place; to drive out of one's mind”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[af|grc|ἐκ|ἵστημι|tr1=ek|tr2=hístēmi|t1=out|t2=to place, cause to stand]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The state of being beside oneself, thrown into a frenzy or stupor by fear, astonishment or passion (1382 in the OED; about 1384 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the New Testament Greek ''ékstasis'' meant a trance.^(Etymonline) In the 17th century mystical writers used ''ecstasy'' for a state of rapture in which the body was stupefied while the soul contemplated divine things,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) which probably helped the shift to “an exalted state of good feeling, intense delight” (1526 in the OED; 1610s in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In medicine it also named states of trance (1598).^(OED 1989) Since 1985 ''Ecstasy'' has been a slang name for the drug MDMA.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – frenzy or stupor.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – rapture, intense delight.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590 – ''ecstatic''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1652 – mystical rapture.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1985 – the drug MDMA.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Intense joy or delight; [[rapture]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A state of emotion so intense that one is carried beyond rational thought and self-control.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The trance or rapture associated with mystic or prophetic exaltation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' The drug [[MDMA]], used illicitly for its mood-enhancing effects.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ecstatic]]

+ * [[rapture]]

+ * [[stasis]]

+ * [[transport]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD distinguishes ''ecstasy'', originally a trance-like state and now usually intense delight, from ''[[rapture]]'', ''transport'' (being carried away by strong emotion) and ''exaltation'' (elevated, often excessive passion).^(AHD) Random House adds that ''ecstasy'' can be of any overpowering emotion, such as rage or grief.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}