psychiatry
|psy-chi-a-try|
C1
/saɪˈkaɪətri/
mental health medicine
Etymology
Etymology Information
'psychiatry' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'psychiatreia,' where 'psyche' meant 'mind' and 'iatreia' meant 'healing.'
Historical Evolution
'psychiatreia' transformed into the French word 'psychiatrie,' and eventually became the modern English word 'psychiatry' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'healing of the mind,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the medical field dealing with mental health.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
She decided to specialize in psychiatry after medical school.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/10 06:12