English
psychical
Psychical comes from Ancient Greek ψυχικός ‘concerned only with the life or animal…’, and goes back to ψῡ́χω ‘to blow’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEψῡ́χω‘to blow’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEψῡχή‘breath, spirit’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEψυχικός‘concerned only with the life or animal qualities, as opposed with spiritual concerns’
- Englishearliest quotation 1891psychical
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEψῡ́χω‘to blow’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEψῡχή‘breath, spirit’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEψυχικός‘concerned only with the life or animal qualities, as opposed with spiritual concerns’
- Englishearliest quotation 1891psychical
Earliest quotation: 1891, Oscar Wilde, London; New York: “Who could say where the fleshly impulse ceased, or…”
Formed from ψυχικός + -al
Linked words
through Ancient Greek ψῡ́χω ‘to blow’
Today it means
adj Performed by or pertaining to the psyche (the mind, spirit, or both): mental, psychic.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ψῡ́χω / psychical