Psychs

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /saɪks/

Definitions

1. Refers to individuals skilled in psychology or mental health and is used informally to denote psychological states or surprises related to mental conditions
2. Describes people engaged in psychological practices or can imply sudden mental shifts or pranks that affect one’s mindset
3. Pertains to psychologists or psychological phenomena and may also signify emotional disruptions or mental jolts experienced unexpectedly

Etymology: "Psychs" is simply the plural of "psych," a word that was clipped from several longer terms. The short form came first as a shortening of "psychiatry," "psychology," and related words like "psychiatrist," "psychoanalyst," and "psychologist." Other senses were shortened from different sources: a verb from "psychologize," an adjective from "psychedelic," and a noun from "psychedelic rock." The noun and verb senses have a different lineage. The noun is clipped from "psychic," and the verb comes from "psychic" as used in the phrase "psychic bid," which appears slightly earlier than the noun. Meanings like "unexpected emotional jolt" fit this pattern of informal shortening, where a word borrowed from a technical field picks up looser, everyday uses.

Synonyms: psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists