Adjacent Words

Ecstasy definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EC'STASY, n. [Gr. to stand.]
1. Primarily, a fixed state; a trance; a state in which the mind is arrested and fixed, or as we say, lost; a state in which the functions of the senses are suspended by the contemplation of some extraordinary or supernatural object.
Whether what we call ecstasy be not dreaming with our eyes open, I leave to be examined.
2. Excessive joy; rapture; a degree of delight that arrests the whole mind; as a pleasing ecstasy; the ecstasy of love; joy may rise to ecstasy.
3. Enthusiasm; excessive elevation and absorption of mind; extreme delight.
He on the tender grass
Would sit and hearken even to ecstasy.
4. Excessive grief or anxiety. [Not used.]
5. Madness; distraction. [Not used.]
6. In medicine, a species of catalepsy, when the person remembers, after the paroxysm is over, the ideas he had during the fit.
EC'STASY, v.t. To fill with rapture or enthusiasm.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion; "listening to sweet music in a perfect rapture"- Charles Dickens [syn: ecstasy, rapture, transport, exaltation, raptus]
2: a state of elated bliss [syn: ecstasy, rapture]
3: street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine [syn: Adam, ecstasy, XTC, go, disco biscuit, cristal, X, hug drug]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -sies) Etymology: Middle English extasie, from Middle French, from Late Latin ecstasis, from Greek ekstasis, from existanai to derange, from ex- out + histanai to cause to stand — more at ex-, stand Date: 14th century 1. a. a state of being beyond reason and self-control b. archaic swoon 2. a state of overwhelming emotion; especially rapturous delight 3. trance; especially a mystic or prophetic trance 4. often capitalized a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties — called also MDMA Synonyms: ecstasy, rapture, transport mean intense exaltation of mind and feelings. ecstasy and rapture both suggest a state of trance or near immobility produced by an overpowering emotion. ecstasy may apply to any strong emotion (as joy, fear, rage, adoration) <religious ecstasy>. rapture usually implies intense bliss or beatitude <in speechless rapture>. transport applies to any powerful emotion that lifts one out of oneself and usually provokes vehement expression or frenzied action <in a transport of rage>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -ies) 1 an overwhelming feeling of joy or rapture. 2 Psychol. an emotional or religious frenzy or trancelike state. 3 sl. methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a powerful stimulant and hallucinatory drug (see MDMA). Etymology: ME f. OF extasie f. LL extasis f. Gk ekstasis standing outside oneself f. ek out + histemi to place

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ecstasy Ec"sta*sy, v. t. To fill ecstasy, or with rapture or enthusiasm. [Obs.] The most ecstasied order of holy . . . spirits. --Jer. Taylor.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ecstasy Ec"sta*sy, n.; pl. Ecstasies. [F. extase, L. ecstasis, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to put out of place, derange; ? = ? out + ? to set, stand. See Ex-, and Stand.] [Also written extasy.] 1. The state of being beside one's self or rapt out of one's self; a state in which the mind is elevated above the reach of ordinary impressions, as when under the influence of overpowering emotion; an extraordinary elevation of the spirit, as when the soul, unconscious of sensible objects, is supposed to contemplate heavenly mysteries. Like a mad prophet in an ecstasy. --Dryden. This is the very ecstasy of love. --Shak. 2. Excessive and overmastering joy or enthusiasm; rapture; enthusiastic delight. He on the tender grass Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy. --Milton. 3. Violent distraction of mind; violent emotion; excessive grief of anxiety; insanity; madness. [Obs.] That unmatched form and feature of blown youth Blasted with ecstasy. --Shak. Our words will but increase his ecstasy. --Marlowe. 4. (Med.) A state which consists in total suspension of sensibility, of voluntary motion, and largely of mental power. The body is erect and inflexible; the pulsation and breathing are not affected. --Mayne.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(ecstasies) 1. Ecstasy is a feeling of very great happiness. ...a state of almost religious ecstasy. N-VAR 2. Ecstasy is an illegal drug which makes people feel happy and energetic. 3. If you are in ecstasy about something, you are very excited about it. If you go into ecstasies, you become very excited. My father was in ecstasy when I won my scholarship... She went into ecstasies over actors. PHRASE: N inflects

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Trance, suspension of external sense. 2. Transport, rapture, ravishment, delight, excessive joy, supreme delight, transporting pleasure.

Moby Thesaurus

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