sadism

sadism
A form of perversion, often sexual in nature, in which a person finds pleasure in inflicting abuse and maltreatment. Cf.:masochism. [Marquis de Sade, 1740–1814, confessedly addicted to the practice]

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sa·dism 'sā-.diz-əm, 'sad-.iz- n a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the infliction of physical or mental pain on others (as on a love object) compare ALGOLAGNIA, MASOCHISM
sa·dis·tic sə-'dis-tikalso sā-or sa- adj
sa·dis·ti·cal·ly -ti-k(ə-)lē adv
Sade sȧd Marquis de (Comte Donatien-Alphonse-François) (1740-1814)
French soldier and writer. From the time that he was a young nobleman Sade consorted with prostitutes and developed a taste for sexual perversions. He was imprisoned on several occasions for his harsh abuse of prostitutes and gross licentiousness. After arriving at the Bastille in 1784 he began writing erotic novels in which he gave full expression to his sexual fantasies. His most famous novel was The Adversities of Virtue (1787). His works are known for their graphic descriptions of sexual perversions. His last years were spent in an insane asylum at Charenton, where he wrote plays for his fellow inmates to perform. His compulsion for physically and sexually abusing others gave rise to the concept of sadism.

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n.
sexual excitement in response to inflicting or thinking about inflicting pain upon other people. See also masochism, sexual deviation.
• sadist n.
• sadistic adj.

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sa·dism (saґdiz-əm) (sadґiz-əm) [Comte Donatien Alphonse Franзois, Marquis de Sade, French novelist, 1740–1814] the act or instance of gaining pleasure from inflicting physical or psychological pain on another; the term is usually used to denote sexual s. sadist n sadistic adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • sadism — SADÍSM s.n. Tendinţă anormală spre cruzime, plăcere bolnăvicioasă de a vedea pe cineva suferind sau de a pricinui suferinţe: cruzime extremă. ♦ spec. Perversiune sexuală manifestată prin plăcerea de a provoca partenerului suferinţe fizice. – Din… …   Dicționar Român

  • Sadism — is the derivation of pleasure as a result of inflicting pain, or watching pain inflicted, on others. Aspects of it include:*Sadomasochism *Sadism and masochism as medical terms *Sadistic personality disorder;See also *Marquis de Sade, an… …   Wikipedia

  • sadism — (n.) love of cruelty, 1888, from Fr. sadisme, from Count Donatien A.F. de Sade (1740 1815). Not a marquis, though usually now called one, he was notorious for cruel sexual practices he described in his novels …   Etymology dictionary

  • sadism — ► NOUN ▪ the tendency to derive sexual gratification or general pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others. DERIVATIVES sadist noun sadistic adjective sadistically adverb. ORIGIN French sadisme, from the name of the French …   English terms dictionary

  • sadism — [sā′diz΄əm, sad′iz΄əm] n. [Fr, after SADE Marquis de] 1. the getting of sexual pleasure from dominating, mistreating, or hurting one s partner 2. the getting of pleasure from inflicting physical or psychological pain on another or others: Cf.… …   English World dictionary

  • Sadism —    Just as with its mirror image masochism, sadism has come to have three meanings: (1) the voluntary infliction of suffering; (2) in psychoanalysis, a compulsive kind of personality characterized by regression to the anal sadistic phase of… …   Historical dictionary of Psychiatry

  • sadism — sadist, n., adj. sadistic /seuh dis tik, say , sa /, adj. sadistically, adv. /say diz euhm, sad iz /, n. 1. Psychiatry. sexual gratification gained through causing pain or degradation to others. Cf. masochism. 2. any enjoyment in being cruel …   Universalium

  • sadism — n. to display sadism * * * to display sadism …   Combinatory dictionary

  • Sadism —    A sadist has come to be thought of as one who delights in cruelty. In psychology, however, sadism is the association of sexual gratification with the infliction of pain on others. The word was derived from the name of Count Donatien Alphonse… …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • sadism — [[t]se͟ɪdɪzəm[/t]] N UNCOUNT Sadism is a type of behaviour in which a person obtains pleasure from hurting other people and making them suffer physically or mentally. Psychoanalysts tend to regard both sadism and masochism as arising from… …   English dictionary

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