Sadomasochism

A female dominant with a male submissive at her feet, from Dresseuses d'Hommes (1931) by Belgian artist Luc Lafnet

Sadism (/ˈsdɪzəm/) and masochism (/ˈmæsəkɪzəm/), known collectively as sadomasochism (/ˌsdˈmæsəkɪzəm/ SAY-doh-MASS-ə-kiz-əm) or S&M,[1] is the derivation of pleasure from acts of respectively inflicting or receiving pain or humiliation. [2] The term is named after the Marquis de Sade, a French author known for his violent and libertine works and lifestyle, and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, an Austrian author who described masochistic tendencies in his works. Though sadomasochistic behaviours and desires do not necessarily need to be linked to sex, sadomasochism is also a definitive feature of consensual BDSM relationships.

  1. ^ Wells, John (3 April 2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Pearson Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  2. ^ Murray, Thomas Edward; Murrell, Thomas R. (1989). The Language of Sadomasochism: A Glossary and Linguistic Analysis. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 7–8. ISBN 978-0-313-26481-8.