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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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Intensely vivid flowing multicolored repeating patterns around a neutral eye, psychedelic visual style without drug use.
adjective / noun

psychedelic

sigh-kuh-DEL-ik/ˌsaɪkəˈdelɪk/

Associated with altered states of perception and consciousness.

Etymology
psycheGreekbreath, life, soul, or mind
+delGreekto reveal, make visible
+icEnglishconnected with or characteristic of

The pieces suggest “revealing the mind,” reflecting the word’s original application to drugs that produce expanded consciousness. Its use for vivid patterns extends this meaning to things resembling the perceived effects of those drugs.

Full entry

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