Relationship
What does Compersion mean?
Joy in the other’s romantic pleasure — the contrary taste of jealousy, when it shows up.
Definition
Compersion names the taste — sometimes small, sometimes rehearsed — of seeing a partner happy in another bond. Jealousy and compersion can coexist on the same day. Demanding the word as moral proof usually silences real jealousy.
Origin
The word is English. On 28 November 1980, at a Kerista commune board session (Haight-Ashbury, 1971–1991), they asked for the antonym of jealousy; the answer was compersion. Ryam Nearing and Loving More magazine carried the word into 1980s polyamory.
History
From the San Francisco commune the term moved into poly glossaries and, later, TikTok. Jealousy and compersion can coexist. Demanding the word as moral proof usually silences real jealousy.
How it emerged
Jealousy already had a name. The opposite taste did not. Kerista plated it; Loving More took the word out of the commune.
Usage examples
I felt real compersion only after a lot of talk.
The same day held jealousy and a small taste of the other bond.
Translations
- pt compersion
- en compersion
- es compersión / compersion
Synonyms
- Kerista
- polyfidelity
- jealousy