schadenfreude

See also: Schadenfreude

English

WOTD – 11 August 2008

Etymology

Borrowed from German Schadenfreude (joy in the misfortune of others), from Schaden (damage, misfortune) + Freude (joy). The word gained popularity in English in the late 20th c.[1] and likely entered mainstream usage through an episode of The Simpsons[2] (more in citations).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʃɑːdənfɹɔɪdə/ enPR: SHäʹdənfroidə
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔɪdə

Noun

schadenfreude (uncountable)

  1. Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune.
    • 1897, Arthur Schopenhauer, Thomas Bailey Saunders (translator), "Human Nature", The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer,
      But it is Schadenfreude, a mischievous delight in the misfortunes of others, which remains the worst trait in human nature.

Quotations

  • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:schadenfreude.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

  1. “schadenfreude,Schadenfreude”, in Google Books Ngram Viewer, accessed November 8, 2016
  2. “Words at play: schadenfreude”, in Merriam Webster, accessed November 8, 2016

Further reading

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