Other forms: ecstasies
Ecstasy is an overwhelming feeling of joy. In ecstasy, sheer ecstasy, an ecstasy of relief.
It is stronger than delight and suggests being carried out of yourself, which is exactly what the word means. Religious ecstasy is a recognised category in the mystical writing of many traditions. An ecstasy of something means being overwhelmed by it: an ecstasy of grief, which is possible because the word is about intensity rather than pleasure. Note ecstatic; and that Ecstasy is also a street name for the drug MDMA.
1nounecstasyAn overwhelming feeling of joy.
“When their team scored in the last minute, the fans screamed in ecstasy.”
2nounstateAn overwhelming state of a strong feeling other than joy, as in an ecstasy of worry or of rage.
“She worked herself into an ecstasy of worry over nothing.”
ecstasy is an overwhelming feeling.
Greek ekstasis means standing outside oneself — ek-, out, plus stasis, a standing. The same stasis gives static and system, and ecstasy is literally displacement from your own position.
Ancient Greek
ἔκστασις
Latin
ecstasis
Old French
estaise — ecstasy, rapture
English, today
ecstasy
Built from
From Old French estaise (“ecstasy, rapture”), from Latin ecstasis, from Ancient Greek ἔκστασις, from ἐξίστημι (“to displace”), from ἐκ (“out”) and ἵστημι (“to stand”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA