Psycho
/ˈsaɪ.koʊ/noun
An informal noun or adjective referring to a person considered mentally unstable, violent, or frightening.
Did you know?In ancient Greek myth, Psyche personified the soul and was often depicted with butterfly wings, because the same word could mean both “soul” and “butterfly.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
psychē
“Breath, life, soul, or the animating principle of a person; also used for butterfly”
Ancient Greek
Greek
psychikos
“Of the soul or mind; mental rather than bodily”
17th Century
New Latin
psycho-
“A combining form relating to the mind or soul, used in learned scientific vocabulary”
19th Century
English
psychopath
“A person with a severe personality disorder, especially one associated with antisocial behavior”
20th Century
English
psycho
“Informal shortened form of psychopath or psychotic; a frightening or mentally unstable person”
Explore more surprising origins