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psychokinesis

[sahy-koh-ki-nee-sis, -kahy-]
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noun
  1. the purported ability to move or deform inanimate objects, as metal spoons, through mental processes.
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Origin of psychokinesis

First recorded in 1910–15; psycho- + -kinesis
Also called telekinesis.
Related formspsy·cho·ki·net·ic [sahy-koh-ki-net-ik, -kahy-] /ˌsaɪ koʊ kɪˈnɛt ɪk, -kaɪ-/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for psychokinesis

Historical Examples

  • 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

  • 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)

  • 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

British Dictionary definitions for psychokinesis

psychokinesis

noun
  1. (in parapsychology) alteration of the state of an object by mental influence alone, without any physical intervention
  2. psychiatry a state of violent uncontrolled motor activity
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Derived Formspsychokinetic (ˌsaɪkəʊkɪˈnɛtɪk), adjective

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for psychokinesis

n.

1914 [Henry Holt, "On the Cosmic Relations"], from psycho- + kinesis. Related: Psychokinetic (1904).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
psychokinesis in Medicine

psychokinesis

(sī′kō-kĭ-nē′sĭs, -kī-)
n. pl. psy•cho•ki•ne•ses (-sēz)
  1. An uncontrolled, maniacal outburst, resulting from defective inhibition.
  2. The production or control of motion, especially in inanimate and remote objects, purportedly by the exercise of psychic powers.
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Related formspsy′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.