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psychic

[sahy-kik]
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adjective Also psy·chi·cal.
  1. of or relating to the human soul or mind; mental (opposed to physical).
  2. Psychology. pertaining to or noting mental phenomena.
  3. outside of natural or scientific knowledge; spiritual.
  4. of or relating to some apparently nonphysical force or agency: psychic research; psychic phenomena.
  5. sensitive to influences or forces of a nonphysical or supernatural nature.
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noun
  1. a person who is allegedly sensitive to psychic influences or forces; medium.
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Origin of psychic

First recorded in 1855–60, psychic is from the Greek word psȳchikós of the soul. See Psyche, -ic
Related formspsy·chi·cal·ly, adverbin·ter·psy·chic, adjectivenon·psy·chic, adjective, nounnon·psy·chi·cal, adjectivenon·psy·chi·cal·ly, adverbun·psy·chic, adjectiveun·psy·chi·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

psychologicalmetaphysicalspiritualsupernaturalmentalmysticsensitiveoccultintellectualclairvoyantcerebralimmaterialimpressibleimpressionablepreternaturalresponsivesensiblesentientsusceptibleunworldly

Examples from the Web for psychic

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Let me say at once that I am not taking up the question of the psychic, or entering into it at all.

  • Does it not throw some doubts upon your own psychic fitness for mating at all?

  • Both gipsy and psychic expert had failed in their prophecies.

    Ruggles of Red Gap

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • In other words, there must be a psychic interest preceding the sex act.

    The Truth About Woman

    C. Gasquoine Hartley

  • The greater the fear of failure, the more the psychic impotence increases.

British Dictionary definitions for psychic

psychic

adjective
    1. outside the possibilities defined by natural laws, as mental telepathy
    2. (of a person) sensitive to forces not recognized by natural laws
  2. mental as opposed to physical; psychogenic
  3. bridge (of a bid) based on less strength than would normally be required to make the bid
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noun
  1. a person who is sensitive to parapsychological forces or influences
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Derived Formspsychical, adjectivepsychically, adverb

Word Origin

C19: from Greek psukhikos of the soul or life
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for psychic

adj.

1872, "of or pertaining to the human soul" (earlier psychical, 1640s), from Greek psykhikos "of the soul, spirit, or mind" (opposed to somatikos), also (New Testament) "concerned with the life only, animal, natural," from psykhe "soul, mind, life" (see psyche). Meaning "characterized by psychic gifts" first recorded 1871.

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n.

"a medium;" 1870; see psychic (adj.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
psychic in Medicine

psychic

(sī′kĭk)
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, affecting, or influenced by the human mind or psyche; mental.
  2. Capable of extraordinary mental processes, such as extrasensory perception and mental telepathy.
  3. Of or relating to such mental processes.
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n.
  1. A person apparently responsive to psychic forces.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.