ecstatic definition

English

Alternative forms

• ecstatick (obsolete)
• extatic (obsolete)
• extatick (obsolete)
• extatique (obsolete, rare)

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἐκστατικός (ekstatikós). Surface analysis: ecstasy +‎ -tic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛkˈstætɪk/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

ecstatic (comparative more ecstatic, superlative most ecstatic)

1. Feeling or characterized by ecstasy.
   • 1749, [John Cleland], “[Letter the First]”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], volume I, London: […] G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], OCLC 731622352, page 194:

     [W]hilſt he heſitated there, the criſis of pleaſure overtook him, and the cloſe compreſſure of the vvarm ſurrounding fold, drevv from him the extatic guſh, even before mine vvas ready to meet it, kept up by the pain I had endur'd in the courſe of the engagement, from the unſufferable ſize of his vveapon, tho' it vvas not as yet in above half its length.

   • 1837, Michael Ryan, The Philosophy of Marriage, in Its Social, Moral, and Physical Relations; with an Account of the Diseases of the Genito-urinary Organs which Impair or Destroy the Reproductive Function; and Induce a Variety of Complaints; with the Physiology of Generation in the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms [...], London: John Churchill, Princes' Street, Soho, OCLC 243495533, page 191:

     The moment of ejaculation in mammiferous animals is accompanied by universal excitement of the whole body, a kind of slight convulsion, which terminates in a comatose or exstatic state.

2. Extremely happy.
   • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XIX, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, OCLC 1227855:

     Bobbie was dancing round the room on the tips of her toes uttering animal cries, apparently ecstatic in their nature.

3. Relating to, or caused by, ecstasy or excessive emotion.

   ecstatic gaze    ecstatic trance

   • 1649, Henry Hammond, The Pastor's Motto

     this ecstatic fit of love and jealousy

Synonyms

• blissful
• delirious
• elated
• euphoric
• joyful
• joyous

Translations

Noun

ecstatic (plural ecstatics)

1. (in the plural) Transports of delight; words or actions performed in a state of ecstasy.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, III.11:

     I think that Dante's more abstruse ecstatics / Meant to personify the Mathematics.

2. A person in a state of ecstasy.
   • 1993, William A. Graham, Beyond the written word: oral aspects of scripture in the history of religion, Cambridge University Press:

     If there is anything that can be called protoscripture, it is surely the utterances of ecstatics, prophets and seers...