n.; pl. Cantharides [ L., a kind of beetle, esp. the Spanish fly, Gr. kanqari`s. ] (Zool.) A beetle (Lytta vesicatoria, syn. Cantharis vesicatoria), having an elongated cylindrical body of a brilliant green color, and a nauseous odor; the blister fly or blister beetle, of the apothecary; -- also called Spanish fly. Many other species of Lytta, used for the same purpose, take the same name. See Blister beetle, under Blister. The plural form in usually applied to the dried insects used in medicine. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Cathartic. ] (Med.) 1. A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

2. (Psychotherapy) The process of relieving an abnormal excitement by reëstablishing the association of the emotion with the memory or idea of the event that first caused it, and of eliminating it by complete expression (called the abreaction). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Cathartic. ] (Med.) 1. A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

2. (Psychotherapy) The process of relieving an abnormal excitement by reëstablishing the association of the emotion with the memory or idea of the event that first caused it, and of eliminating it by complete expression (called the abreaction). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]