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ecstasy definition

ec·stasy (ekstə sē)

noun pl. ecstasies -·sies

  1. a state of being overpowered by emotion, as by joy, grief, or passion an ecstasy of delight
  2. a feeling of overpowering joy; great delight; rapture
  3. a trance, esp. one resulting from religious fervor
  4. Slang an illegal, mildly psychedelic derivative of amphetamine, CHNO, that slows down reactions and thought; MDMA

Etymology: ME & OFr extasie < LL(Ec) ecstasis < Gr ekstasis, a being put out of its place, distraction, trance < ek-, out + histanai, to set: see stand

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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