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Compulsion vs Cacoethes - What's the difference?

compulsion | cacoethes |

As nouns the difference between compulsion and cacoethes

is that compulsion is an irrational need to perform some action, often despite negative consequences while cacoethes is compulsion; mania.

compulsion

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An irrational need to perform some action, often despite negative consequences.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=David Simpson
    • , volume=188, issue=26, page=36, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Fantasy of navigation , passage=It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […].}}
  • The use of authority, influence, or other power to force (compel) a person or persons to act.
  • The lawful use of violence (i.e. by the administration).

    • Related terms

    * compulsive * compulsory

    External links

    * *

    cacoethes

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Noun

  • compulsion; mania
    • (Addison)
  • (medicine, obsolete) A bad quality or disposition in a disease; an incurable ulcer.
    • (Webster 1913) ----