psych-

combining form or psycho-

Etymology: Greek, from psychē life, spirit, soul, self

1. : soul : spirit

psychogram

psychopannychism

psychotheism

2.

a. : mind : mental processes and activities

psychodynamic

psychology

psychometric

b. : psychological methods

psychoanalysis

psychotherapy

c. : cerebral

psychosurgery

psychotropic

d. : mental and : psychic and

psychogalvanic

psychophysical

* * *

var. of psycho- before some vowels: psychasthenia.

* * *

psych «syk», noun, verb.

–n.

Informal. psychology: »

to major in psych, to take a psych course.

–v.t. Slang.

1. to psychoanalyze or psychologize: »

Bailey even used a hypnotist to help him pick and “psych” jurors, presumably by silent brain waves (Time).

2. to use psychology on: »

Westrum…plans to “psych” the Mets with inspiration, optimism, and appeals to the spirit (New York Times).

3. to trick, defeat, or overcome by the use of psychology: »

It looked as if they had been “psyched” out of a vulnerable slam (Scotsman). Having discovered psychology, the cops induce “truth” by psyching the subject (Time).

4. to stimulate; excite: »

We were all psyched up, and as a result when we got there the shooting started, almost as a chain reaction (Harper's).

–v.i.

Slang. to break down psychologically: »

“I boosted my bow hand, I think. I psyched out. I'll be damned if I know how” (James Dickey).

╂[< psych(ology)]

psych-,

combining form. a form of psycho- (Cf. ↑psycho-) used in some cases before vowels.

psych.,

1. psychological.

2. psychology.

* * *

psycho- [ˈsaɪkəʊ] [ˈsaɪkoʊ] (also psych-) combining form

(in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with the mind

•

psychology

•

psychiatric

 

Word Origin:

[psycho-] from Greek psukhē ‘breath, soul, mind’.