DictionaryRoot: psykhē
Greek
psykhē
breath, life, soul, or mind
Forms
- psykhē
- psych- — The form used before other endings.
- psycho- — Used when joining to another element with a linking o.
Origin
Related to Greek psykhein, “breathe or blow.”
Note
Breath as a sign of life helped connect this family with the self and mind.
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noun
psyche
SIGH-kee/ˈsaɪki/
A person's mind or inner self.
Etymology
Greek psykhē covered both the animating soul and the mind as the seat of thought. The modern psychological sense focuses on this inner mental life, including thoughts and feelings.