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psychological

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 12:32. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɒd͡ʒ.ɪ.kl̩/ (UK); /ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɑː.d͡ʒɪ.kl̩/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from psychology and -ical.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or relating to psychology, the mind as a subject of study: before 1688 in the OED, the 1680s in Etymonline,[5][2] about 1688 in MWU.[3]

Semantic evolution

It was used loosely for psychical, of the mind, from 1794.[5] In the early 20th century the sense gradually shifted towards affecting or relating to a person's mental or emotional state,[2] and the colloquial sense, arising in the mind and having no physical cause, is from 1952.[5][6] The psychological moment was in vogue from 1871, from French moment psychologique;[2][5] Fowler, quoted by Etymonline, says the French misunderstood the original German phrase, which meant a psychological factor rather than a point in time.[2][5] Psychological warfare is from 1940.[2]

Timeline

  • before 1688 – relating to psychology.[5]
  • 1794 – relating to the mind.[5]
  • 1871 – psychological moment.[2][5]
  • 1940 – psychological warfare.[2]
  • 1952 – arising in the mind.[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to psychology.
  2. Of or arising from the mind or emotions; mental.
  3. Having no physical cause; imagined: his pains are psychological.
  4. Intended to influence the mind: psychological warfare.

Word family

  • psychologically
  • prepsychological
  • nonpsychological
  • pseudopsychological
  • sociopsychological
  • unpsychological
  • psychological moment
  • psychological warfare

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins