Psychrometric

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A discipline focused on analyzing the properties and behaviors of moist air, including temperature, humidity, and energy transfer dynamics
2. An area of study dedicated to understanding the thermal and moisture content relationships in air and their impact on environmental conditions
3. Pertaining to the science that involves determining the moisture content and temperature characteristics of air

Etymology: "Psychrometric" is a technical coinage built from two Greek-derived pieces. The first, "psychro-", comes from Greek "psychros", meaning "cold", and the second, "-metric", comes from "metron", meaning "measure". Put together, the word describes the measurement of cold, and in practice that means the measurement of moisture in air, which is done with a pair of thermometers, one of them wrapped in wet cloth. As the wet bulb cools through evaporation, the gap between the two readings reveals how much water the air is holding. The "psychro-" element also shows up in "psychrometer", the instrument itself, and in related technical terms for cold conditions. Its link to the everyday word "psyche" is coincidental, since that word comes from a different Greek root meaning "breath" or "soul." Both were borrowed into modern scientific vocabulary, but they are separate words that happen to look alike.