Definition of psyche
1 capitalized : a princess loved by Cupid
2 [Greek psychē] a : soul, personality the nation's consumer psyche — D. J. Kevlesb : the totality of elements forming the mind (see 1mind 2); specifically, in Freudian psychoanalytic theory : the id, ego, and superego including both conscious and unconscious components
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of psyche in a sentence
some hidden corner within your psyche
disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist
Did You Know?
Sometime back in the 16th century, we borrowed the word psyche directly from Greek into English. In Greek mythology, Psyche was a beautiful princess who fell in love with Eros (Cupid), god of love, and went through terrible trials before being allowed to marry him. The story is often understood to be about the soul redeeming itself through love. (To the Greeks, psyche also meant "butterfly", which suggests how they imagined the soul.) In English, psyche often sounds less spiritual than soul, less intellectual than mind, and more private than personality.
Origin and Etymology of psyche
Latin, from Greek psychē soul
First Known Use: 1590
Other Psychology Terms
PSYCHE Defined for English Language Learners
psyche
playDefinition of psyche for English Language Learners
-
: the soul, mind, or personality of a person or group
Medical Dictionary
psyche
playMedical Definition of psyche
: the specialized cognitive, conative, and affective aspects of a psychosomatic unity : mind; specifically : the totality of the id, ego, and superego including both conscious and unconscious components
Learn More about psyche
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for psyche Spanish Central: Translation of psyche Nglish: Translation of psyche for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of psyche for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about psyche
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up psyche? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!