Hedone

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An ancient Greek term referring to pleasure or delight, often associated with sensual enjoyment and the pursuit of happiness
2. A philosophical concept from ancient Greece signifying the experience of pleasure as a central aspect of human life and desire
3. A notion throughout classical thought encompassing both physical and emotional joy, emphasizing the importance of pleasure in the quest for fulfillment

Etymology: Hedone is the Ancient Greek word for "pleasure," and it was personified as a goddess, Hēdonē, whose name simply meant "Pleasure" itself. In Greek thought she was regarded as the companion of Eros, the god of love and desire, and was sometimes shown alongside the Graces, the goddesses of charm and beauty. Her name was a plain abstract noun, built from the same root that gives Greek words for "sweet" and "to be pleased," so the personification and the everyday word were one and the same. The name passed into modern scientific and philosophical vocabulary much later, in the form "hedonism," which describes the view that pleasure is the highest good. English borrowed the Greek root for that purpose, not the goddess herself, so the everyday sense of "pleasure" in Greek was turned into a technical term for a philosophy.

Synonyms: pleasure, delight, joy, bliss, enjoyment

Antonyms: pain, suffering, misery, distress, unhappiness