masochism - Dictionary definition and pronunciation - Yahoo! Education

Definition of masochism


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mas·och·ism  audio  (ms-kzm) KEY 

NOUN:
  1. The deriving of sexual gratification, or the tendency to derive sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused.
  2. The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from being humiliated or mistreated, either by another or by oneself.
  3. A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.

ETYMOLOGY:
After Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), Austrian novelist

OTHER FORMS:
masoch·ist(Noun), masoch·istic(Adjective), masoch·isti·cal·ly(Adverb)


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