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Psyche vs Psycho - What's the difference?

psyche | psycho |

As nouns the difference between psyche and psycho

is that psyche is the human soul, mind, or spirit while psycho is a person who is psychotic or otherwise insane.

As an abbreviation psyche

is psychology.

As an interjection psyche

is Used abruptly after a sentence to indicate that the speaker is only joking.

As a verb psyche

is to put (someone) into a required psychological frame of mind.

As a proper noun Psyche

is the personification of the soul. Originally a mortal princess who later married Eros/Cupid, (the god of love), was deified, and bore him a daughter, Hedone/Voluptas.

As an adjective psycho is

psychotic, or otherwise insane.

psyche

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The human soul, mind, or spirit.
  • (chiefly psychology) The human mind as the central force in thought, emotion, and behavior of an individual.
  • Etymology 2

    Shortened form of (psychology), from (etyl) psychologie, from (etyl) psychologia, from (etyl)

    Alternative forms

    * psych

    Abbreviation

    (Abbreviation) (head)
  • psychology
  • Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • Verb

    (psych)
  • To put (someone) into a required psychological frame of mind.
  • To intimidate (someone) emotionally using psychology.
  • (informal) To treat (someone) using psychoanalysis.
  • psycho

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (colloquial, or, pejorative) Psychotic, or otherwise insane.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (pejorative, slang) A person who is psychotic or otherwise insane.
  • The loony bin up on the hill is full of psychos .
  • (pejorative, slang) A person who acts in a bizarre or dangerous manner.
  • She complained that he was a psycho for driving at such a high speed in heavy traffic.
  • (informal) A class, at a college or university, in which psychology is taught.
  • "I've got anthro, socio, lunch, and psycho."

    Synonyms

    * (pejorative for a pyschotic or otherwise insane person) freak, loony, nutcase, wacko * (pejorative for a person acting in a bizarre or dangerous manner) creep, freak, loose cannon, weirdo