psychopomp

[sahy-koh-pomp]

noun

a person who conducts spirits or souls to the other world, as Hermes or Charon.

Origin of psychopomp

First recorded in 1860–65, psychopomp is from the Greek word psȳchopompós conductor of souls. See psycho-, pomp

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for psychopomp

Historical Examples of psychopomp

Hermes himself, the Psychopomp, shall lead, and Malahide shall welcome us.
Day and Night Stories
Algernon Blackwood
The rle of general conductor of souls to the realms of the underworld, however, came to be given to Hermes, the psychopomp.
Elements of Folk Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt
As the souls of the departed are symbolized as rats, so is the psychopomp himself often figured as a dog.
Myths and Myth-Makers
John Fiske

Word Origin and History for psychopomp

1835, from Greek psykhopompos "spirit-guide," a term applied to Charon, Hermes Trismegistos, Apollo; from psykhe (see psyche) + pompos "guide, conductor."