Emotion

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/

Definitions

1. A strong feeling such as joy, anger, fear, or sadness that arises in response to circumstances or thoughts
2. A mental state that encompasses a range of feelings like joy, anger, fear, and sadness as a reaction to various stimuli or thoughts
3. A complex psychological experience characterized by feelings such as happiness, anger, fear, and sadness, usually triggered by events or thoughts

Etymology: The concept of feelings and inner experiences has long been part of human life, but the word we use today to describe these intense personal responses has a distinctly modern origin. Emerging in English around the mid-16th century, this term was coined by borrowing from the French "émotion," which itself derived from the Latin verb "emovere," meaning "to move out" or "to stir up." The Latin roots break down into "e-" (a variant of "ex-," meaning "out of") and "movere," meaning "to move." This etymology reflects how early thinkers viewed feelings as forces that physically moved or agitated the body. Originally, the term was closely tied to the idea of physical movement or agitation, such as the stirring of the heart or the body when encountering strong feelings. It was not limited to psychological states but encompassed any kind of outward manifestation of inner disturbance or excitement. Over time, the word narrowed to focus more specifically on the mental and psychological experiences—joy, anger, fear, and the like—that move a person internally rather than just physically. By the 17th century, the word had become well established in English to denote these inner stirrings, and it was increasingly used in philosophical and psychological discourse. The evolution continued as the term began to be distinguished from mere sensations or thoughts, highlighting a complex inner life of subjective feelings that influence behavior and perception. The word’s journey from a literal "movement out" to an abstract inner experience parallels the broader development of psychology as a discipline seeking to understand the unseen forces driving human actions. Interestingly, this word shares its root with "motion," which retains a more concrete physical meaning related to movement. Both words stem from the Latin "movere," but while "motion" stayed in the realm of observable movement, the term in question took a more metaphorical path, capturing the unseen currents of human feeling. This divergence highlights how language can branch into specialized meanings, even when words share a common origin. The shift from physical to psychological meaning mirrors the gradual separation in Western thought between body and mind, making the term a linguistic marker of evolving ideas about human nature. It is a reminder that what we call feelings today were once understood as physical disturbances or movements within the body, a perspective that still echoes in phrases like "heartfelt" or "stirred emotions."

Synonyms: feeling, sentiment, affection, passion, mood

Antonyms: apathy, indifference, calmness, detachment, dispassion