CATHEXIS (cathexes)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: cathexes   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cathexis mean? 

• CATHEXIS (noun)
  The noun CATHEXIS has 1 sense:

1. (psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object

  Familiarity information: CATHEXIS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CATHEXIS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object

Classified under:

Nouns denoting goals

Synonyms:

cathexis; charge

Context example:

Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge

Hypernyms ("cathexis" is a kind of...):

libidinal energy ((psychoanalysis) psychic energy produced by the libido)

Domain category:

analysis; depth psychology; psychoanalysis (a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud)

Derivation:

cathectic (of or relating to cathexis)