to concentrate psychic energy on (some particular person, thing, or idea)
Derived forms
cathectic (caˈthectic)
adjective
Word origin
see cathexis
cathect in American English
(kəˈθekt, kæ-)
transitive verb
Psychoanalysis
to invest emotion or feeling in (an idea, object, or another person)
Word origin
[1930–35; back-formation from cathectic relating to cathexis]This word is first recorded in the period 1930–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: acoustic phonetics, boondoggle, hypercorrection, saddle stitch, video