Word of the Day: Hedonist

he⋅don⋅ist [heed-n-ist]

–noun

1.	a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.

–adjective

2.	Also, he⋅don⋅is⋅tic. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a hedonist or hedonism.

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Origin:
1855–60; see hedonism, -ist

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

he·don·ism (hēd’n-ĭz’əm)

n.

1. Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
2. Philosophy The ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good.
3. Psychology The doctrine holding that behavior is motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

[Greek hēdonē, pleasure; see swād- in Indo-European roots + -ism.]

he’don·ist n., he’don·is’tic adj., he’don·is’ti·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

hedonist

noun

someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

Hedonism is such an ugly word in our anhedonic, pleasure-denying society. The word conjures images of gluttons and stories of Nero and Messalina. Excess isn’t pleasurable or enjoyable because the nuances and uniqueness of the indulgence are missed and taken for granted. Hedonism and pleasure are about savoring the moment every sound, smell, taste, touch, sight…it’s the epitome of sensuality. I am a hedonist because seeking out, enjoying pleasure, especially sexual pleasure, are divine motivations as far as I am concerned. So long as none are nonconsensually harmed, then do what you will! Dr. Susan Block has an excellent article on ethical hedonism, a philosophy by which I live and work.

Here’s a little history to finish:

hedonist

1822, in reference to the Cyrenaic school of philosophy that deals with the ethics of pleasure, from Gk. hedonikos “pleasurable,” from hedone “pleasure,” related to hedys “sweet” (see sweet). Hedonistic is from 1866; earlier adj. form was hedonic (1656). A hedonist is properly the follower of any ethical system in which the highest good is some sort of pleasure. The Epicurian identifies this with the practice of virtue.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

And how sweet it is!