psychoanalytic

Etymology

It is formed from English psycho- + analytic, after psychoanalysis;^[2] Etymonline and Klein derive it from psychoanalysis with -ic.^[3][4] Merriam-Webster Unabridged explains it as formed from psychoanalysis on the model of analysis and analytic, and notes that it was first formed as German psychoanalytisch.^[5][6] The OED compares French psycho-analytique (1905), Italian psico-analitico (1908) and the German word (1909 or earlier).^[2] Psychoanalysis is from German Psychoanalyse or French psycho-analyse, both used by Sigmund Freud in 1896.^[2][3] Psycho- goes back to Ancient Greek ψυχή (psukhḗ, “breath, life, soul, mind”),^[4][2] and analytic to ἀναλυτικός (analutikós, “analytical”).^[4][2] The rarer form psychanalytic may follow French psychanalytique (1909).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or relating to psychoanalysis: 1906, in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology,^[2] the same first year as the noun psychoanalysis.^[2] Merriam-Webster also dates the adjective to 1906,^[7] but Etymonline gives 1902.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept the one sense it was formed for, relating to psychoanalysis or using its methods and principles.^[2][5][7] The longer psychoanalytical is used in the same sense,^[5][7][4] and the forms without -o-, psychanalytic and psychanalytical, match the usual modern French and Italian words, psychanalytique and psicanalitico.^[5][2]

Timeline

• 1906 – of or relating to psychoanalysis.^[2][7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of or relating to psychoanalysis, the method of treating mental disorders introduced by Sigmund Freud: a psychoanalytic reading of the novel.^[2][5][1]
2. Using the principles or techniques of psychoanalysis: She trained in psychoanalytic therapy.^[5][7][2]

Word family

• psychoanalytically
• nonpsychoanalytic
• postpsychoanalytic

Related words

• psychoanalysis
• psychoanalyst
• psyche
• analysis
• analytic

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
5. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. (1961), Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam
7. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster