n.
- The deriving of sexual gratification or the tendency to derive sexual gratification from inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others.
- The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty.
- Extreme cruelty.
[After Comte Donatien Alphonse François de SADE.]
sadist sa'dist n.sadistic sa·dis'tic (sə-dĭs'tĭk) adj.
sadistically sa·dis'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
