epicaricacy
feeling pleasure about the misfortune of others
TRANSLATION
epicaricacy = Schadenfreude
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Finally, a word revived and restored: EPICARICACY "derivation of pleasure from the misfortunes of others". This turned up in a piece discussing the motives of internet trolls who prey on women.
The Guardian
The Guardian
Did you
know?
epicaricacy
noun (uncountable)
- Feeling pleasure at the pain or misfortunes of others
- Schadenfreude
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ORIGIN & USAGE
From the Ancient Greek ἐπιχαιρεκακία (epikhairekakía, "joy upon evil").
Although epicaricacy was used in English as early as the 17th century (in Burton's "The Anatomy of Melancholy") and is mentioned in some early dictionaries, there is little evidence of actual usage until it was picked up by various "interesting word" websites around the start of the 21st century.
The more popular equivalent "schadenfreude" was introduced into English in the 1800s when German literature, philosophy, psychology, and Biblical studies were all the rage in Europe and the United States. So it had a kind of cultural currency. In a word, it was cool.
Combine that with the fact that schadenfreude is easy enough to say, but just difficult enough to make it seem a bit special, and you've got yourself a great viral term.
Now that schadenfreude has become mainstream, epicaricacy has begun popping up online (where it doesn't have to be pronounced). Time will tell which term will eventually win the popularity race.
(Adapted from Ernie Jones)
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SYNONYMS
gloating, sadism, sardonic attitude, schadenfreude
Curious to hear this word spoken? Go to:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AEpicaricacy_Pronunciation.wav
Thanks to Florian for suggesting today's word
noun (uncountable)
- Feeling pleasure at the pain or misfortunes of others
- Schadenfreude
----
ORIGIN & USAGE
From the Ancient Greek ἐπιχαιρεκακία (epikhairekakía, "joy upon evil").
Although epicaricacy was used in English as early as the 17th century (in Burton's "The Anatomy of Melancholy") and is mentioned in some early dictionaries, there is little evidence of actual usage until it was picked up by various "interesting word" websites around the start of the 21st century.
The more popular equivalent "schadenfreude" was introduced into English in the 1800s when German literature, philosophy, psychology, and Biblical studies were all the rage in Europe and the United States. So it had a kind of cultural currency. In a word, it was cool.
Combine that with the fact that schadenfreude is easy enough to say, but just difficult enough to make it seem a bit special, and you've got yourself a great viral term.
Now that schadenfreude has become mainstream, epicaricacy has begun popping up online (where it doesn't have to be pronounced). Time will tell which term will eventually win the popularity race.
(Adapted from Ernie Jones)
---
SYNONYMS
gloating, sadism, sardonic attitude, schadenfreude
Curious to hear this word spoken? Go to:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AEpicaricacy_Pronunciation.wav
Thanks to Florian for suggesting today's word
