ataraxia
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- ataractic adjective
- ataraxic adjective
Etymology
Origin of ataraxia
First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek ataraxía “impassiveness, calmness,” equivalent to atarák(tos) “unmoved” ( a- a- 6 + tarak-, a stem of tarássein “to disturb” + -tos verbid suffix) + -s(is) -sis + -ia -ia
Explanation
Ataraxia is a blissful, peaceful state of mind. Many people who meditate hope to achieve a state of ataraxia. If you tend to get flustered, you're probably envious of your calm, serene friend's ataraxia — it might seem like she never seems to worry about anything. This word is sometimes written as ataraxy in English, from the Greek root ataraxia, literally "impassiveness," from a-, "not," and tarassein, "to disturb or confuse." In ancient Greece, the Epicureans most famously sought the state of ataraxia, which they considered to be true happiness.
Vocabulary lists containing ataraxia
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For Epicurus, achieving ataraxia requires confronting irrational fears, especially the fear of death.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
And I think what I found is much like what Greek philosophers called ataraxia, a suspended kind of calm in which you can find a surprising strength.
From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2015
The purpose of Scepticism is then the hope of ataraxia, and its origin was in the troubled state of mind induced by the inequality of things, and uncertainty in regard to the truth.
From Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism by Patrick, Mary Mills
Christians for a century or two never thought of ataraxia or apathy, and, though Clement of Alexandria plays with them, he tries to give them a new turn.
From The Conflict of Religions in the Early Roman Empire by Glover, T. R. (Terrot Reaveley)
When the sage realizes this, he will cease to prefer one course of action to another, and the result will be apathy, "ataraxia."
From A Critical History of Greek Philosophy by Stace, W. T. (Walter Terence)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
