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ataraxia

[at-uh-rak-see-uh]
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noun
  1. a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; tranquillity.
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Also at·a·rax·y [at-uh-rak-see] /ˈæt əˌræk si/.

Origin of ataraxia

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek: calmness, equivalent to atarák(tos) unmoved (a- a-6 + tarak-, variant stem of tarássein to disturb + -tos verbid suffix) + -s(is) -sis + -ia -ia
Related formsat·a·rac·tic [at-uh-rak-tik] /ˌæt əˈræk tɪk/, at·a·rax·ic, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ataraxy

Historical Examples

  • Thus philosophy is only an apprenticeship of death, and not of life; it tends to death by its image, apathy and ataraxy.

    Christianity and Greek Philosophy

    Benjamin Franklin Cocker

British Dictionary definitions for ataraxy

ataraxia

ataraxy (ˈætəˌræksɪ)

noun
  1. calmness or peace of mind; emotional tranquillity
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Word Origin

C17: from Greek: serenity, from ataraktos undisturbed, from a-1 1 + tarassein to trouble
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ataraxy

ataraxia

n.

also Englished as ataraxy, "calmness, impassivity," c.1600, from Modern Latin, from Greek ataraxia "impassiveness," from a-, privative prefix, + tarassein (Attic tarattein) "to disturb, confuse," from PIE root *dher- "to make muddy, darken."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper