The story
From de- + cathect or a back-formation from decathexis, decathectic.
First known use, by meaning
- from 20th c. To detach or withdraw one's emotional energies (libido) from (something or someone).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
decathect
Today it means: To detach or withdraw one's emotional energies (libido) from (something or someone). Full definition →
First used 20th c.