WikiWord

English

hedonism

/ˈhɛdənɪzəm/ · noun

Meaning

  1. The philosophical belief that prioritizes happiness, particularly sensual pleasure as the highest good in life.
  2. A general devotion to the pursuit of pleasure.

Etymology / origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sweh₂d-der. Ancient Greek ἡδονή (hēdonḗ) Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English hedonism From Ancient Greek ἡδονή (hēdonḗ, “pleasure”) + English -ism. First attested in 1856.

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