- sadism
- "love of cruelty," 1888, from Fr. sadisme, from Count Donatien A.F. de Sade (1740-1815). Not a marquis, though usually now called one, he was notorious for the cruel sexual practices he described in his novels. Sadist first recorded 1897; sadistic is 1892, after Ger. sadistisch. Compound Sado-masochism first recorded 1935 (see masochism). Abbreviation S & M first attested 1965.