Ecstasy vs Enthusiasm - What's the difference?

ecstasy | enthusiasm | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between ecstasy and enthusiasm

is that ecstasy is intense pleasure while enthusiasm is possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.

As a proper noun Ecstasy

is the drug MDMA, a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family.

ecstasy

English

(wikipedia ecstasy)

Alternative forms

* extasy

Noun

Intense pleasure.

* Shakespeare

This is the very ecstasy of love.

* Milton

He on the tender grass / Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy .

A state of emotion so intense that a person is carried beyond rational thought and self-control.

* Dryden

like a mad prophet in an ecstasy

A trance, frenzy, or rapture associated with mystic or prophetic exaltation.

(obsolete) Violent emotion or distraction of mind; excessive grief from anxiety; insanity; madness.

* Shakespeare

That unmatched form and feature of blown youth / Blasted with ecstasy .

* Marlowe

Our words will but increase his ecstasy .

(slang) The drug MDMA, a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family.

(medicine, dated) A state in which sensibility, voluntary motion, and (largely) mental power are suspended; the body is erect and inflexible; but the pulse and breathing are not affected.

(Mayne)

Synonyms

* (the drug) MDMA mali; (Modern Vernacular) E, XTC, X, mali, thizz

Antonyms

* (intense pleasure) agony

enthusiasm

English

(wikipedia enthusiasm)

Noun

(obsolete, or, historical) Possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.

* 1946 , Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy , ch. 1

The intoxication that they sought was that of ‘enthusiasm ’, of union with the god.

Intensity of feeling; excited interest or eagerness.

Something in which one is keenly interested.

* 1968 , Central States Archaeological Journal (volumes 15-16, page 154)

My main enthusiasm is attending and seeing the progress and interest of collectors, to meet old friends, and hopefully to make new friends.

* 2012 , Nicholas Joll, Philosophy and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (page 23)

Other Adamsian enthusiasms included: fast cars; restaurants; Bach, the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits;