Other forms: psyches
The psyche is the mind and spirit of a person. The human psyche, damage to the psyche, the national psyche.
It covers more than the mind alone — the word carries soul with it, which is why psychology and psychiatry both begin with it. In Greek myth Psyche was a mortal woman loved by Eros, and her name means both soul and butterfly.
1nounpsycheThe mind and spirit of a person.
“The war left deep scars on the nation's psyche.”
psyche is a mind.
Greek psyche means the soul or breath of life, and also a butterfly. Psychology and psychiatry come from it.
Ancient Greek
ψυχή — soul
Latin
psychē
English, today
psyche
Latin psychē, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ψυχή (“soul”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA