Catharses
/kəˈθɑːr.siːz/noun
Plural of catharsis: a cleansing or purging, especially an emotional release.
Did you know?Catharsis comes from Greek kátharsis, meaning a cleansing or purification, and it later became a major concept in drama and psychology as a way to purge emotion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*k̑eht-
“To cleanse or make pure (reconstructed root, uncertain details).”
Ancient Greek
Greek
katharsis (κάθαρσις)
“Cleansing, purification, or ritual purging.”
Late Latin
Latin
catharsis
“Cleansing or purgation, especially in learned use.”
14th–16th Century
English
catharsis
“Purification or purging, especially in medical or literary contexts.”
Modern English
English
catharsis
“A release of strongly held emotion or a purging effect.”