masochism means the (often sexual) enjoyment of receiving pain or humiliation. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 81 out of 100.
masochism is pronounced /ˈmæs.ə.kɪ.zəm/.
Why “masochism” is a great word
The condition, often of a sexual nature, in which gratification is derived from one's own pain or humiliation. The term was coined in 1886 by the psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing, from the name of the author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose novels depicted such desires, and the suffix -ism. Unlike "sadism" (which denotes the enjoyment of inflicting pain upon others) or "self-flagellation" (which is a literal act of penance devoid of inherent pleasure), masochism is the alchemical transformation of suffering into a private source of power. It is the sharp intake of breath that becomes a sigh, the sting of a reprimand that feels like validation, and the willing submission to a weight that provides, perversely, a form of relief—a quiet proof that the psyche can not only endure but also arrange its own punishments.
Etymology
From German Masochismus, coined alongside Sadismus in 1886 by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in his book Psychopathia Sexualis. Named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose novel "Venus in Furs" explores a sadomasochistic relationship, + -ism.
noun
- The (often sexual) enjoyment of receiving pain or humiliation.
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