/ ˈekstəsi; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ U , C ] a feeling or state of very great happiness
SYN bliss
2.
Ecstasy [ U ] ( abbr. E ) an illegal drug, taken especially by young people at parties, clubs, etc.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (originally referring to an emotional or religious frenzy or trance-like state): from Old French extasie , via late Latin from Greek ekstasis standing outside oneself, based on ek- out + histanai to place.