Psychopath

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsaɪkoʊˌpæθ/

Definitions

1. A person characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits
2. An individual exhibiting a chronic lack of empathy, guilt, and remorse, alongside manipulative and often dangerous behavior patterns
3. Someone who demonstrates disregard for societal norms and the feelings of others, usually coupled with charm and superficial charisma

Etymology: The word was built from two Ancient Greek parts: "psykhē" meaning "soul" or "mind," and "pathos" meaning "suffering" or "feeling." Its path into English ran through German. The German "psychopathisch" was the adjective form, and English took the noun from it, so the word's first sense was a broad one about any mental disorder, not the narrow sense of a callous, charming manipulator that it carries today. That narrowing is the real shift. For much of its history the term described a person whose mind was ill in some general way, and the modern meaning, centred on a lack of conscience and an ability to hide that lack behind a pleasant surface, developed later. The word had no specific reference to charm or deceit until that shift took place.

Synonyms: sociopath

Antonyms: empath