psyche

Everyday

1. Your psyche is your mind and soul — your thoughts, feelings and the deep part of who you are. tree →
2. (myths) In Greek myths Psyche was a beautiful young woman who fell in love with Cupid (Eros) and became a goddess of the soul. tree →
3. (slang, "psych") Different word: to psych someone out or get psyched up. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and lessons on feelings, the psyche is the inner self; a frightening event can "leave a mark on her psyche". Psychology, the study of the mind, comes from the same Greek word. In space news, Psyche is also a metal-rich asteroid and the NASA mission to it.

Examples

• The scary film stayed in my psyche for days. tree →
• Bullying can hurt a person's psyche, not just their body. tree →
• Writers try to show the psyche of their characters. tree →
• In the myth, Psyche had to complete hard tasks to win back Cupid. tree →
• Psychology is the study of the human psyche. tree →
• NASA sent a spacecraft to the asteroid Psyche. tree →
• Winning the game was good for the team's psyche. tree →
• "The Psyche within can never die. tree →

Note

Say "SY-kee" — two syllables, the final e is spoken; the p is silent. Do not confuse with "psych" (one syllable, "syke"): "I'm psyched" (slang) means excited. Countable but usually singular.