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psychokinesis

[ sahy-koh-ki-nee-sis, -kahy- ]
/ ˌsaɪ koʊ kɪˈni sɪs, -kaɪ- /

noun

the purported ability to move or deform inanimate objects, as metal spoons, through mental processes.

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Also called telekinesis.

Origin of psychokinesis

First recorded in 1910–15; psycho- + -kinesis

OTHER WORDS FROM psychokinesis

psy·cho·ki·net·ic [sahy-koh-ki-net-ik, -kahy-], /ˌsaɪ koʊ kɪˈnɛt ɪk, -kaɪ-/, adjective

Words nearby psychokinesis

psychograph, psychographer, psychographics, psychohistory, psychoimmunology, psychokinesis, psychol., psycholepsy, psycholinguistics, psychological, psychological block
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for psychokinesis

  • That is if we assume that the process is at all parallel with the phenomena of psychokinesis and levitation.

    Out Like a Light|Gordon Randall Garrett

  • In effect, what appeared to be foreknowledge was psychokinesis—the same phenomenon as the movement of crumbs of cheese by my rat.

    The Leader|William Fitzgerald Jenkins (AKA Murray Leinster)

  • I caught an occasional word, like 'oxygen' and 'psychokinesis.'

    Rebels of the Red Planet|Charles Louis Fontenay

  • "You claimed that the human mind possessed powers of psychokinesis," I said.

    Pythias|Frederik Pohl

British Dictionary definitions for psychokinesis

psychokinesis
/ (ˌsaɪkəʊkɪˈniːsɪs, -kaɪ-) /

noun

(in parapsychology) alteration of the state of an object by mental influence alone, without any physical intervention
psychiatry a state of violent uncontrolled motor activity

Derived forms of psychokinesis

psychokinetic (ˌsaɪkəʊkɪˈnɛtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for psychokinesis

C20: from psycho- + Greek kinēsis motion
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

Medical definitions for psychokinesis

psychokinesis
[ sī′kō-kĭ-nē′sĭs, -kī- ]

n. pl. psy•cho•ki•ne•ses (-sēz)

An uncontrolled, maniacal outburst, resulting from defective inhibition.
The production or control of motion, especially in inanimate and remote objects, purportedly by the exercise of psychic powers.

Other words from psychokinesis

psy′cho•ki•net′ic (-kĭ-nĕt′ĭk, -kī-) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.