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psychopomp

[sahy-koh-pomp]
noun
  1. a person who conducts spirits or souls to the other world, as Hermes or Charon.
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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

  • 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.

  • As the souls of the departed are symbolized as rats, so is the psychopomp himself often figured as a dog.

Word Origin and History for psychopomp

n.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper