Dictionary

obsession en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /əbˈsɛʃən/ (UK, US)

Etymology

From Latin obsessio (“a besieging”), from obsidere (“to besiege”); see obsess. Equivalent to obsess + -ion.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The quality of being obsessed; an unshakeable feeling that one topic or activity must be pursued above other interests.
   • My obsession with rugby resulted in me spending years following the sport.
2. (countable) An idea that engenders a compulsive or irrational preoccupation, or the preoccupation thereby engendered.
   • The downfall of the chairman is an obsession that consumes Laura's time.
3. (countable) An activity or entity that inspires a compulsive and potentially unhealthy fixation, or the fixation thereby inspired.
   • His current obsession is getting that law passed.
   • Editing Wikipedia started as a hobby, but it's turned into a complete obsession of mine.
4. (uncountable) Influence or control by evil spirits without possession.
   • It is true, that by the workings of the law of attraction, and the susceptibility of mortals to the influence of spirit powers, mortals may become obsessed by the spirits of evil—that is evil spirits of men who once lived on earth—and this obsession may become so complete and powerful that the living mortal may lose all power to resist this influence of the evil spirits... 2007, James E. Padgett, The Teachings of Jesus^([ISBN-1430303913]), page 100:
   • if an evil spirit counterfeits the presence of God, and comes upon the man as an influence only, it may be described as obsession; but when a footing is gained in him, it is "possession," because the obsessing spirits have gained access, and possess the ground they hold, up to the extent of the ground given. 1973, Jessie Penn-Lewis, Evan Roberts, War on the Saints, →ISBN:
   • They should see that a perception of their identification with the Victor of Calvary is absolutely necessary if they are to constantly and victoriously resist the obsession of evil spirits. 1999, Mary E. McDonough, God's Plan of Redemption^([ISBN-0736307184]), page 85:

Forms

Deriveds

obsessionist · obsessionism · celebrity obsession disorder · self-obsession

Relateds

obsessed · obsess · obsessive · obsessional · obsessively

Synonyms

obsessedness · idée fixe · kick

Translations (90)

ro idee fixă (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · da besættelse (unhealthy fixation) · mr खूळ (unhealthy fixation) · el μανία (unhealthy fixation) · ru навя́зчивая иде́я (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · tr takıntı (unhealthy fixation) · ru ма́ния (unhealthy fixation) · tl himaling (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · mi whakamaimoa (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ru одержи́мость (state of being obsessed) · da tvangstanke (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · cs obsese (unhealthy fixation) · cs obsese (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ru иде́я-фикс (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · fi pakkomielle (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · es obsesión (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · el εμμονή (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · pl obsesjonalność (state of being obsessed) · nb besettelse (unhealthy fixation) · lv apsēstība (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ja 妄想 (unhealthy fixation) · nb besettelse (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · bg натрапчива идея (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · mr ध्यास (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · mi hemonga (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · gd beò-ghlacadh (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · gd beò-ghlacadh (unhealthy fixation) · sv besatthet (unhealthy fixation) · pl obsesyjność (state of being obsessed) · nl obsessie (unhealthy fixation) · it ossessione (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · cmn 迷住 (unhealthy fixation) · hu megszállottság (unhealthy fixation) · ru заци́кленность (unhealthy fixation) · pt obsessão (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · da fiks ide (unhealthy fixation) · ru фикса́ция (unhealthy fixation) · mr ध्यास (state of being obsessed) · de Besessenheit (unhealthy fixation) · mr ध्यास (unhealthy fixation) · ca obsessió (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · cmn 著迷 (unhealthy fixation) · es obsesión (unhealthy fixation) · el ιδεοληψία (unhealthy fixation) · cs posedlost (unhealthy fixation) · fi riippuvuus (unhealthy fixation) · ka აკვიატება (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · sv besatthet (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ar هَوَس (state of being obsessed) · he אובססיה (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · tr takıntı (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · hu rögeszme (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · bg мания (unhealthy fixation) · cs posedlost (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ka აკვიატება (state of being obsessed) · el ψυχαναγκασμός (unhealthy fixation) · is þráhyggja (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · af obsessie (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · fi pakkomielle (unhealthy fixation) · be апанта́насць (state of being obsessed) · mi unuora (unhealthy fixation) · hu görcsös ragaszkodás (unhealthy fixation) · pl obsesja (unhealthy fixation) · el ιδεοληψία (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · nl fixatie (unhealthy fixation) · ro obsesie (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ka ობსესია (state of being obsessed) · nl obsessie (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · sh opsednutost (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · fr obsession (unhealthy fixation) · it fissa (unhealthy fixation) · fa وسواس (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · cmn 着迷 (unhealthy fixation) · pl obsesja (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · fr idée fixe (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · uk одержи́мість (state of being obsessed) · de fixe Idee (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · nl dwangvoorstelling (unhealthy fixation) · mr वेड (unhealthy fixation) · ka აკვიატება (unhealthy fixation) · nl bezetenheid (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · af obsessie (unhealthy fixation) · tr saplantı (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · hu fixa idea (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · pt obsessão (unhealthy fixation) · de Sucht (unhealthy fixation) · pdt Besätenheit (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ar هَوَس (compulsive or irrational preoccupation — see also idée fixe) · ca obsessió (unhealthy fixation) · hu mánia (unhealthy fixation)