schadenfreude etymology

Etymology:

  • German, from Middle High German schadenfröude, from Middle High German schade "harm" + fröude "joy"

Meaning and Origin:

Schadenfreude is a loanword from German that refers to the pleasure or satisfaction derived from another person's misfortune. It is not a direct translation of any single English word, but its closest English equivalents are "malicious joy" or "taking pleasure in someone else's pain."

The term originated in the 18th century and has been used in English since the early 19th century. It is often associated with schadenfreude's negative connotations, such as pettiness, cruelty, and a lack of empathy.

However, schadenfreude can also be used in a more neutral or even positive sense. For example, it can be used to describe the feeling of satisfaction that comes from seeing someone who has wronged you get their comeuppance. In this sense, schadenfreude can be seen as a form of justice or poetic justice.

Whether it is considered positive or negative, schadenfreude is a complex emotion that has been studied by psychologists and philosophers for centuries. It is a reminder that human beings are capable of both great empathy and great cruelty, and that the line between the two can sometimes be very thin.

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