abreact

To eliminate previously repressed emotions by reliving past experiences.

Verb

  1. To eliminate previously repressed emotions by reliving past experiences.
    • HEATHER: But he'd deny it afterwards. Same thing all over. / DYSART: No. Because he's ready to abreact. / HEATHER: Abreact? / DYSART: Live it all again. - 1973, Peter Shaffer, “Act II”, in Equus, page 79:

Origin

Partial calque of German abreagieren, from ab (“away from, off, down from”) + reagieren (“to react”), equivalent to ab- + react.

Forms

abreacts abreacting abreacted

Derived

abreactive