English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

"P" Word Origins

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

“P” Word Origins

Borrowed from Yiddish פּששש (pshshsh).

From the Greek letter name psi (Ψ), going back to Ancient Greek psei.

From Greek psora ("itch") plus the medical suffix -sis, via Late Latin psoriasis.

An imitative sound, similar to noises used to call animals, adapted for getting a person's attention quietly.

A shortened form of "psychologize."

From Greek psykhē ("soul, mind"), also the name of a mythological princess loved by Cupid.

Coined in 1956 by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond from Greek psykhē ("mind") and dēlos ("visible, manifest") — literally "mind-manifesting."

From psychiatry plus the adjective suffix -ic.

From psychiatry plus the agent suffix -ist.

Borrowed from French psychiatrie, first recorded in English around 1846.

From Greek psukhikos ("of the soul, mind"), related to psykhē ("soul, mind").

From Ancient Greek ψυχικός (psukhikós) + -al. By surface analysis, psyche + -ical.

A shortening of "psychotic" or "psychopath."

From psycho- + active.

Adapted from German Psychoanalyse; built from psycho- + analysis.

From psycho- + analyst.

Blend of psycho- and babble, first used around 1975 by writer R.D. Rosen.

From psycho- + -kinesis.

From psychology plus the adjective suffix -ical.

From psychology plus the agent suffix -ist.

From French psychologie, ultimately from Greek psykhē ("soul, mind") + -logia ("study of").

From German psychopathisch, built from Greek psykhē ("soul") + pathos ("suffering").

From psycho- + -pathic.

From psycho- + -pathy.

From psych- + the medical suffix -osis, or directly from Greek psukhōsis ("animation, principle of life").

From psycho-, from Greek psukhe "mind, soul", combined with social, from Latin socialis "of companionship".

From psycho- + somatic (relating to the body).

psychotherapist

From psychotherapy + -ist.

From psycho- + therapy.

Formed from psychosis + -tic, attested since the late 1800s.

From psycho- + -tropic ("turning toward"), ultimately from Greek tropē ("a turning").

From French ptérodactyle, coined by naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek pteron ("wing") + daktylos ("finger").

An initialism, standing variously for paid time off, power take-off, parent-teacher organisation or please turn over.

From Ancient Greek Ptolemaios.

From Mandarin 蒲 (Pú).

Shortened from "public house."

From Old French puberté, from Latin pubertas ("the age of maturity").

From Latin pubes ("hair that appears at puberty").

From Latin pūbēscentia, from pūbēscō.

From Middle French pubescent, from Latin pubescens (“to become hairy, downy, or an adult”).

From "pubis" plus the adjective suffix -ic.

Genitive of Latin pubes (“the pubic hair”, collective). The noun was generalized from medical Latin os pubis, the pubic bone.

From Old French public, from Latin publicus ("of the people, of the community"), related to populus ("the people").

Probably from public house (“(Britain) bar or tavern, often also selling food and sometimes lodging, pub”) or public (“open to all members of a community”) + -an (suffix forming agent nouns), apparently originally used humorously.

From Old French publicacion, from Latin publicatio, ultimately from public + -ation.

From public + -ise.

Borrowed from French publiciste, built from public plus the agent suffix -ist.

From French publicité, ultimately from Latin publicus, "public."