countercathexis

C3O1U1N1T1E1R1C3A1T1H4E1X8I1S1

noun

The suppression or repression of mental energy.

OriginEnglish cathexis ← Middle English counter- ← Anglo-Norman countre- →
Scrabble 29
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Meanings

nouncountercathexis (countable and uncountable, plural countercathexes)

plural countercathexes

  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe suppression or repression of mental energy.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
counterinvestment

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Proto-Italic*komteros
  6. Proto-Italic*komterād
  7. Latincontrā
  8. Old Frenchcontre-
  9. Anglo-Normancountre-
  10. Middle Englishcounter-
  11. Englishcounter-
  12. Englishcathexis
  13. Englishcountercathexis

From counter- + cathexis.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese contracatexia, anticatexia
  • contracatexiathe suppression or repression of mental energy
  • anticatexiathe suppression or repression of mental energy
Cite this entry
APA

countercathexis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countercathexis

MLA

“countercathexis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countercathexis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “countercathexis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countercathexis.

Source: countercathexis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.