ataraxy

English

Etymology

From Middle French ataraxie, from Ancient Greek ἀταραξία (ataraxía, “impassiveness”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + ταράσσω (tarássō, “I disturb”). Doublet of ataraxia.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈatəɹaksi/

Noun

ataraxy (usually uncountable, plural ataraxies)

1. (philosophy) Ataraxia; freedom from mental disturbance; imperturbability, dogged indifference.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     When the Pyrrhonians say, that ataraxy is the chiefe felicitie, which is the immobilitie of judgement, their meaning is not to speake it affirmatively […].

   • 1911, Max Beerbohm, chapter 21, in Zuleika Dobson‎^[1], New York: John Lane, published 1912, page 319:

     Youth all around prancing, vociferating, mocking; callow and alien youth, having to be looked after and studied and taught, as though nothing but it mattered, term after term—and now, all of a sudden, in mid-term, peace, ataraxy, a profound and leisured stillness.

   • 1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise:

     There was no longer any need for fortitude: he felt nothing at present and there was no point in artificial ataraxy.

   • 1993, Will Self, My Idea Of Fun:

     I was nonplussed, I stared at my teacher, never before had his swollen face seemed so replete with indifference, stone ataraxy.

2. (pharmacology, pharmacy) State of psychological calm and tranquility, absence of discomfort, or metabolical inactivity.
   • 2000, M. Basavanna, Dictionary of Psychology, Allied Publishers, →ISBN, page 28:

     Ataraxy can be produced by ataractics, drugs that have a calming or quieting effect.

Related terms

• ataractic

Translations

freedom from mental disturbance — see ataraxia