ec ‧ sta ‧ sy /ˈekstəsi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural ecstasies )
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Greek ekstasis , from existanai 'to make mad' ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] a feeling of extreme happiness
in (an) ecstasy
She was in an ecstasy of love.
go into ecstasies (=become very happy and excited)
2 . [uncountable] an illegal drug that gives a feeling of happiness and energy. Ecstasy is especially used by people who go out to dance at clubs and parties.
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THESAURUS
■ great happiness
▪ joy especially written a feeling of great happiness:
The sisters hugged and cried tears of joy.
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It was a day of great joy for the whole town.
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Most people would be jumping with joy.
▪ delight the feeling you have when you are very pleased and excited because something good has happened:
They watched with delight as their new son started walking.
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To her delight, she discovered the perfect wedding present.
▪ bliss a feeling of very great happiness and great pleasure – used when something has a great effect on your senses:
Lying in the warm sun and listening to the sea felt like sheer bliss (=complete bliss) .
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Her idea of bliss is to be curled up on the sofa watching a romantic comedy with a big bowl of popcorn.
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The happy couple looked a picture of domestic bliss.
▪ elation written a feeling of great happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something or something good has happened to you:
As they reached the top, the climbers experienced a moment of elation.
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Her mood suddenly changed from tears and misery to a feeling of elation.
▪ euphoria an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something, or because of the effects of a drug:
The euphoria that new parents feel quickly changes to exhaustion.
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The euphoria of Ireland’s amazing victory over England last Sunday has died away.
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The drug produces a feeling of euphoria.
▪ ecstasy an extremely strong feeling of happiness and pleasure, especially sexual pleasure:
It was a moment of sheer ecstacy (=complete ecstacy) .
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the ecstasy of their love-making