katharsis

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

katharsis
    n 1: purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate
         evacuation of the bowels [syn: {catharsis}, {katharsis},
         {purgation}]
    2: (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions [syn:
       {catharsis}, {katharsis}, {abreaction}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

katharsis \katharsis\ n.
   purging of emotional tensions; -- usually spelled
   {catharsis}.

   Syn: catharsis, abreaction.
        [WordNet 1.5]