cathexis

[kuh-thek-sis]

noun

Psychoanalysis.

plural

cathexes 

1. the investment of emotional significance in an activity, object, or idea.

2. the charge of psychic energy so invested.

cathexis

/ kəˈθɛksɪs /

noun

1. psychoanal concentration of psychic energy on a single goal

Other Word Forms

• cathectic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cathexis¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from New Latin, from Greek káthexis “a keeping,” equivalent to kathek- (variant stem of katéchein “to keep, hold on to,” equivalent to kat- cat- ( def. ) + échein “to have, hold”) + -sis -sis, as translation of German Besetzung a taking possession of (Freud's term)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cathexis¹

C20: from New Latin, from Greek kathexis, from katekhein to hold fast, intended to render German Besetzung a taking possession of