Etymology dictionary

pshaw (interj.) — publishing (n.)

pshaw (interj.)

exclamation of contempt, disdain, impatience, rejection, by 1670s.

psi (n.)

23rd letter of the Greek alphabet. Its use for "psychic force, paranormal phenomenon" dates from 1942 (probably from psychic (adj.)).

"the teaching or doctrine that Jesus was entirely human," 1817 (Coleridge; "Biographia Literaria"), from Greek psilanthrōpos "merely human," from psilos "naked, bare, mere" (see psilo-) + anthrōpos "man" (see anthropo-). Related: Psilanthropy; psilanthropic; psilanthropist.

psilo-

before vowels psil-, word-forming element meaning "stripped, bare," used mostly in forming scientific terms, from Greek psilos "bare, naked; mere," perhaps akin to psēn "to rub," and both or either perhaps from PIE root *bhes- "to rub" (source also of Greek psamathos "sand;" see sand (n.)). Middle English had psilotre "a depilatory ointment" (c. 1400).

psilocybin (n.)

1958, from Modern Latin psilocybe, name of a Central American species of mushroom, from Greek psilos "bare" (see psilo-) + kybē "head."

psilosis (n.)

"loss of hair through disease," 1837, medical Latin, from Greek psilosis "a stripping of hair," from psiloun "to strip of hair," from psilos "bare" (see psilo-).

psionic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to psi in the 'paranormal' sense," 1952, from psi + ending from electronic, etc. First attested in science fiction. Related: Psionics.

psittacism (n.)

"mere parroting, parrotry, repetition without reasoning," 1861, from French psittacisme (Liebnitz, 1765) or else from German psittazismus, both from Latin psittacus "parrot" (see psittacine) + -ism.

psittacine (adj.)

"of or pertaining to parrots, belonging to a bird of the parrot family," 1826, from Late Latin psittacinus "of or pertaining to a parrot," from psittacus "parrot," from Greek psittakos (also bittakos, sittakē) "a parrot," said to be a foreign word.

psoas (n.)

muscle in the loins or pelvis, 1680s, from Greek psoa (plural psoai) "muscles of the loins." Related: Psoitis; psoitatic.

psoriasis (n.)

"chronic non-contagious skin disease characterized by dry, red patches covered with flakes," 1680s, from medical Latin psoriasis, in Late Latin "mange, scurvy," from Greek psōriasis "the itch; a being itchy," from psōrian "to have the itch," from psōra "itch, mange, scab," related to psēn "to rub" (see psilo-). Related: Psoriatic.

psyche (n.)

1640s, "animating spirit, the human spirit or mind," from Latin psyche, from Greek psykhē "the soul, mind, spirit; life, one's life, the invisible animating principle or entity which occupies and directs the physical body; understanding, the mind (as the seat of thought), faculty of reason," also "ghost, spirit of a dead person;" probably akin to psykhein "to blow, breathe," also "to cool, to make dry."

These are sometimes traced to a PIE root *bhes- "to blow, to breathe" (source also of Sanskrit bhas-), "Probably imitative" [Watkins]. Beekes finds this tempting but not convincing and doubts the existence of the PIE verb based on scant evidence.

Personified by the Greeks as Psykhē, the beloved of Eros, often represented as a fair young girl; the butterfly was her symbol. Also in ancient Greek, "departed soul, spirit, ghost," seen as a winged creature and often represented symbolically as a butterfly or moth.

The word had extensive sense development in Platonic philosophy and Jewish-influenced theological writing of St. Paul (compare spirit (n.)). Thus in Biblical use the Greek word was "the soul as the seat of feelings, desires, affections, etc.," also "the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life," and "the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death." In English, the meaning "human soul" is from 1650s; the psychological sense of "mind" is attested by 1910.

psych (n.)

short for psychology in various senses; e.g. as an academic study, in student slang by 1895.

psych (v.)

by 1914 as "to subject to psychoanalysis," short for psychoanalyze. From 1934 as "to outsmart" (also psych out), and by 1952 in bridge as "make a bid meant to deceive an opponent." From 1963 as "to unnerve." However to psych (oneself) up is from 1972; to be psyched up "stimulate (oneself), prepare mentally for a special effort" is attested from 1968.

psychedelic (adj.)

occasionally psychodelic, "producing expanded consciousness through heightened awareness and feeling," 1956, of drugs, suggested by British-born Canadian psychiatrist Humphry Osmond in a letter to Aldous Huxley and used by Osmond in a scientific paper published the next year; from Greek psykhē "mind" (see psyche) + dēloun "make visible, reveal" (from dēlos "visible, clear," from PIE root *dyeu- "to shine").

In popular use from 1965 with reference to anything producing effects or sensations similar to the common perception of the effects of a psychedelic drug. As a noun, "a psychedelic drug," from 1956.

psychedelia (n.)

"the subculture associated with users of psychedelic drugs; psychedelic phenomena collectively," 1967, from psychedelic + -ia.

psychedelicize (v.)

"render more colourful and lively" [OED], 1966 (the year of "Time Has Come Today" by the Chambers Brothers), from psychedelic + -ize. Related: Psychedelicized; psychedelicizing.

psychiatric (adj.)

"of, pertaining to, or connected with psychiatry," 1837, from German psychiatrisch or French psychiatrique or else coined in English from psychiatry + -ic.

psychiatry (n.)

"the medical treatment of mental diseases," 1846, from French psychiatrie, from Medieval Latin psychiatria, literally "a healing of the soul," from Latinized form of Greek psykhē "mind" (see psyche) + iatreia "healing, care" (see -iatric).

psychiatrist (n.)

"one who practices psychiatry," 1875, from psychiatry + -ist.

An older name was mad-doctor (1703); also psychiater "expert in mental diseases" (1852), from Greek psykhē + iatros. Also see alienist.

psychic (adj.)

1872, "of or pertaining to the human soul" (earlier psychical, 1640s), from Greek psykhikos "of the soul, spirit, or mind" (opposed to somatikos), also (New Testament) "concerned with the life only, animal, natural," from psykhē "soul, mind, life" (see psyche).

The meaning "characterized by psychic gifts; pertaining to the class of extraordinary and obscure phenomena of the mind not usually treated by psychologists" (mind-reading, second sight, etc.) is attested from 1871.

psychic (n.)

"a medium, person susceptible to psychic impressions," 1870; see psychic (adj.).

psycho (adj.)

1927, shortening of psychological; 1936 (Raymond Chandler) as shortening of psychopathic (adj.).

psycho (n.)

1925 as short for psychologist; (earlier short for psychology, 1921); as short for psychopath by 1942.

psycho-

word-forming element meaning "mind, mental; spirit, unconscious," from Greek combining form of psykhē "the soul, mind, spirit; life, one's life, the invisible animating principle or entity which occupies and directs the physical body; understanding, the mind (as the seat of thought), faculty of reason" (see psyche). It also was used to form compounds in Greek, such as psychapates "soul-beguiling" (with apate "deceit").

psychoactive (adj.)

also psycho-active, "of or pertaining to drugs that affect mental states," 1959, from psycho- + active.

psychoanalysis (n.)

"the theory or therapy of treating mental disorders by investigating unconscious elements and bringing repressed fears and conflicts to the patient's awareness," from Psychoanalyse, coined 1896 in French by Freud from Latinized form of Greek psykhē "the soul, mind, spirit; understanding" (see psyche) + German Analyse, from Greek analysis (see analysis). Freud earlier used psychische analyse (1894).

psychoanalyst (n.)

also psycho-analyst, "one who practices or has training in psychoanalysis," 1910; see psychoanalysis.

psychoanalytic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to psychoanalysis," 1902; see psychoanalysis + -ic.

psychoanalyze (v.)

also psycho-analyze, psychoanalyse, "subject to or treat by psychoanalysis," 1911; see psycho- + analyze. Related: Psychoanalyzed; psychoanalyzing. Earlier was psychologize (1830).

psychobabble (n.)

"jargon based on the concepts and terminology of psychology," 1976, from psycho- (representing psychology) + babble (n.). Earlier was psychologese (1961).

psychodectic (adj.)

"soul-destroying," by 1895, from Latinized form of Greek psykhē "understanding, the mind (as the seat of thought), faculty of reason" (see psyche) + daiktēs "destroying," from daizein "to cleave, slay" (from PIE root *da- "to divide").

psychodrama (n.)

also psycho-drama, "form of psychotherapy involving the acting out of a patient's problems and difficulties," 1937 (in writing of U.S. psychiatrist Jacob L. Moreno (1889-1974)), from psycho- + drama. Related: Psychodramatic.

psychodynamic (adj.)

also psycho-dynamic, 1856, in homeopathic publications, "pertaining to mental powers" (mesmerism, etc.), from psycho- + dynamic (adj.). By 1874 as "pertaining to psychodynamics," the science of the laws of mental action (George Henry Lewes).

psychogenic (adj.)

"having a mental or psychological origin or cause," 1884, from psycho- + -genic.

psychogenesis (n.)

also psycho-genesis, 1838, "origin and development of the soul or mind," from psycho- + -genesis "birth, origin, creation." Also in the same sense was psychogeny. Related: Psychogenetic; psychogenetical.

psychographic (adj.)

also psycho-graphic, "of or pertaining to psychography," 1856, from psychograph "supernatural photographic image or device" (1854) from psycho- + -graph. Also see psychography. Related: Psychographics.

psychography (n.)

1883, "history of an individual soul; the natural history of the phenomenon of mind," from psycho- + -graphy. Earlier it meant "spirit-writing by the hand of a medium" (1863).

psychohistory (n.)

also psycho-history, "interpretation or analysis of historical events and people using psychological and psychoanalytic methods," 1934, from psycho- + history.

psychokinesis (n.)

"the supposed psychic power of moving objects by other than physical means," 1904, from psycho- + kinesis. Related: Psychokinetic (1904).

psychologize (v.)

1830, "make psychological speculations, investigate psychologically;" see psychology + -ize. Transitive sense is by 1856. Related: Psychologized; psychologizing.

psychology (n.)

1650s, "the study of the soul," from Modern Latin psychologia, probably coined mid-16c. in Germany by Melanchthon from Latinized form of Greek psykhē "breath, spirit, soul" (see psyche) + logia "study of" (see -logy). The meaning "science or study of the phenomena of the mind" is attested by 1748, in reference to Christian Wolff's "Psychologia empirica" (1732). The modern behavioral sciences sense is from the early 1890s.

psychological (adj.)

1680s, "of or pertaining to the mind as a subject of study;" see psychology + -ical. In early 20c. the sense gradually shifted toward "affecting or pertaining to a person's mental or emotional state." Related: Psychologically. Psychological warfare "use of propaganda, etc., to undermine an enemy's morale or resolve" is recorded from 1940. Psychological moment was in vogue from 1871, from French moment psychologique "moment of immediate expectation of something about to happen."

psychologist (n.)

"one who studies, writes on, or is versed in psychology," 1727; see psychology + -ist.

psychomancy (n.)

1680s, "divination by consulting the souls of the deceased;" see psycho- + -mancy. The word was revived or re-coined in occultism by 1853. Related: Psychomantic; psychomancer.

psychometrics (n.)

"the science of measuring mental capacities and processes," 1917, from psychometry; also see -ics.

psychometry (n.)

1854, "the alleged power possessed by some sensitive persons of reading the history of an object by handling it;" see psycho- + -metry. In reference to the measurement of the duration of mental states from 1879. Related: Psychometric; psychometrical; psychometrist.

psychomotor (adj.)

also psycho-motor, "pertaining to such mental action as induces muscular contraction," 1873, from psycho- + motor (adj.).

psychopath (n.)

1885, in the criminal psychology sense, "a morally irresponsible person," considered as mentally deranged; "one who obeys his impulses regardless of social codes," a back-formation from psychopathic.

The case alluded to, and Balinsky's means of procuring the acquittal, were briefly notorious in England and brought the word into currency in the modern sense.

psychopathic (adj.)

"pertaining to or of the nature of psychopathy," 1847, from psychopathy on model of German psychopatisch, from Greek psykhē "mind" (see psyche) + pathos "suffering" (from PIE root *kwent(h)- "to suffer").

psychopathy (n.)

1847, "derangement of the mental functions," from psycho- + -pathy, on the model of German Psychopathie. First attested in a translation of Feuchtersleben's "Lehrbuch der ärztlichen Seelenkunde" (1845). By 1891 as "cure of sickness by psychic influence or means" (hypnotism, etc.).

psychopathology (n.)

1847, "the science of mental disorders," from psycho- + pathology, on model of German psychopathologie. By 1947 as "a mentally deranged state or condition."

psychopharmacology (n.)

also psycho-pharmacology, "the science of the effects of drugs on the mind and behavior," 1919, from psycho- + pharmacology. Related: Psychopharmacological.

psychopomp (n.)

"guide or conductor of spirits or souls to the other world," 1835, from Greek psykhopompos "spirit-guide," a term applied to Charon, Hermes Trismegistos, Apollo, etc.; from psykhē "the soul, mind, spirit" (see psyche) + pompos "guide, conductor, escort, messenger," from pempein "to send, dispatch, guide, accompany," which is of unknown origin. "The verb has no IE etymology, nor does it show characteristics of loanwords or Pre-Greek vocabulary" [Beekes].

psychosexual (adj.)

also psycho-sexual, "involving the mental and emotional aspects of sexuality," 1891, from psycho- + sexual. Related: Psychosexually.

psychosis (n.)

1847, "mental affection or derangement," Modern Latin, from Greek psykhē "mind, life, soul" (see psyche) + -osis "abnormal condition." Greek psykhosis meant "a giving of life; animation; principle of life."

psychosocial (adj.)

also psycho-social, "pertaining to or involving the influence of social factors on a person's mind or behavior," 1891, from psycho- + social (adj.).

psychosomatic (adj.)

1847, "pertaining to the relation between mind and body; relating to both soul and body," from Greek psykhē "mind" (see psyche) + sōmatikos, from sōma (genitive sōmatos) "body" (see somato-). Applied from 1938 to physical disorders with psychological causes. Etymologically, it could as easily apply to emotional disorders with physical causes, but it is rarely so used.

psychotic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to psychosis," 1889, coined from psychosis, on the model of neurotic/neurosis; ultimately from Greek psykhē "understanding, the mind (as the seat of thought), faculty of reason" (see psyche). Related: Psychotically.

psychotic (n.)

"a psychotic person," 1901, from psychotic (adj.).

psychotherapy (n.)

"art of curing mental diseases," 1892, from psycho- + therapy, on model of French psychothérapie (1889). In early use also of treatment of diseases by "psychic" methods (mainly hypnotism). Psychotherapeia was used in medical writing in 1853 as "remedial influence of the mind." Related: Psychotherapeutic (1890, in reference to hypnotic treatment); psychotherapeutics (1872).

psychotherapist (n.)

"specialist in or practitioner of psychotherapy," 1894, from psychotherapy + -ist.

psychotropic (adj.)

"affecting a person's mental state," especially "of or pertaining to drugs that affect mental states," 1956, from psycho- + -tropic, from Greek tropos "a turning," from trepein "to turn" (from PIE root *trep- "to turn"). Hence, what "turns" the mind.

psychro-

word-forming element meaning "cold, characterized by cold, capable of enduring low temperatures," from Latinized form of Greek psykhros "cold," from psykhrein "blow, make cool or cold," which is perhaps from the same root as yielded psyche.

psychrometer (n.)

"instrument to measure moisture in the atmosphere," 1838, from Latinized form of Greek psykhros "cold" (see psychro-) + -meter. Earlier it was another word for "thermometer" (1749). "Badly employed in current use" [OED]. Related: Psychrometric; psychrometrical; psychrometry.

psychrophobia (n.)

"dread of or morbid sensitivity to anything cold," especially cold water, 1727, from psychro- "cold" + -phobia "fear."

pt-

An initial consonant combination common in Greek; the p- typically is silent in English words that have it but pronounced in French, German, etc.

pâté (n.2)

1706, "small pie or pastry," from French pâté, from Old French paste, earlier pastée, from paste (see paste (n.)). Especially pâté de foie gras (1827), which was originally a pie or pastry filled with fatted goose liver; the word now generally is used of the filling itself.

ptarmic (n.)

"substance which causes sneezing," 1680s, from noun use of Latin ptarmicus, from Greek ptarmikos "causing sneezing," from ptarmos "the sneeze, a sneezing," which probably is onomatopoeic. Another word for the same thing is sternutatory, from the Latin cognate sternuo.

ptarmigan (n.)

bird of the grouse family, 1590s, from Gaelic tarmachan, a word of unknown origin. The unetymological pt- spelling (1680s) began in French and seems to be a mistaken Greek construction (perhaps based on pteron "wing").

pteranodon (n.)

extinct flying reptile of the Cretaceous period, 1876 (Marsh), based on pterodactyl with the stem of Greek anodous "toothless," from an- "not, without" (see an- (1)) + odon (genitive odontos) "tooth" (from PIE root *dent- "tooth").

pteridology (n.)

"the study of ferns as a branch of botany," 1850, with -logy + from Greek pteris "fern, bracken," probably originally "feather plant," so called for the form of the leaves, and related to pteron "wing" (from PIE root *pet- "to rush, to fly"). Compare fern, also supposed to be descended from a root meaning "feather." Related: Pteridologist (1845).

ptero-

before vowels pter-, word-forming element in science meaning "feather; wing," from Greek pteron "wing," from PIE *pt-ero- (source also of Sanskrit patram "wing, feather," Old Church Slavonic pero "pen," Old Norse fjöðr, Old English feðer), from root *pet- "to rush; to fly."

pterodactyl (n.)

extinct flying reptile, 1826, from French ptérodactyle (Cuvier, 1809), from Modern Latin genus name Pterodactylus, from Greek pteron "wing" (from PIE root *pet- "to rush, to fly") + Latinized form of daktylos "finger" (see dactyl).

Ptolemaic (adj.)

1670s, "of or pertaining to Ptolemy," the 2c. Alexandrian astronomer whose geocentric model of the universe was accepted until the time of Copernicus and Kepler. Also (1771) "of the Ptolemies," The Macedonian Greek dynasty that ruled Egypt from the death of Alexander to Cleopatra. The earlier form was Ptolemaean (1640s).

Ptolemy

ancient masc. proper name, from Greek Ptolemaios, literally "warlike," from ptolemos, collateral form of polemos "war." Also see Ptolemaic.

ptomaine (n.)

generic name of alkaloid bodies formed from animal or vegetable tissues during putrefaction, 1880, from Italian ptomaina, coined by Professor Francesco Selmi of Bologna, 1878, from Greek ptōma "corpse," on the notion of poison produced in decaying matter. Greek ptōma is etymologically "a fall, a falling," perhaps a euphemism, via the notion of "fallen thing, fallen body;" a noun derivative of piptein "to fall" (from PIE *pi-pt-, reduplicated form of root *pet- "to rush; to fly"). The modern word is incorrectly formed, and Selmi is scolded for it by the OED, which says proper Greek would be *ptomatine.

ptosis (n.)

"a falling of or inability to raise the upper eyelid," 1743, from Greek ptōsis, literally "falling, a fall," also "the case of a noun," nominal derivative of piptein "to fall" (from PIE *pi-pt-, reduplicated form of root *pet- "to rush; to fly"). In English, especially of the eyelid. Related: Ptotic.

pus (n.)

yellowish-white inflammatory exudation, consisting of white blood cells, etc., produced by suppuration, late 14c., from Latin pus "pus, matter from a sore;" figuratively "bitterness, malice" (related to puter "rotten" and putere "to stink"), from PIE *pu- (2) "to rot, decay" (source also of Sanskrit puyati "rots, stinks," putih "stinking, foul, rotten;" Greek puon "discharge from a sore," pythein "to cause to rot;" Lithuanian pūvu, pūti "to rot;" Gothic fuls, Old English ful "foul"), perhaps originally echoic of a natural exclamation of disgust.

pub (n.)

1859, slang shortening of public house (see public (adj.)), which originally meant "any building open to the public" (1570s), then "inn that provides food and is licensed to sell ale, wine, and spirits" (1660s), and finally "tavern" (1768). Simple public (n.) as short for public house is attested from 1709 and might have been the intermediate form. Pub crawl is attested by 1910 in British slang. Pub rock is from 1973 in England; popular in U.S. from 1976.

pubes (n.)

1560s, "pubic hair, the pubescence of the genitals; the groin," from Latin pubes "pubescent, arrived at the age of puberty, of ripe years, grown up," also, as a noun, "a sign of puberty" (such as pubic hair), also "young men of the age of puberty" (see pubis). In 19c. also "pubic bone," and earlier "part of either hip bone that forms the front of the pelvis," from Latin os pubis, from pubes "genital area."

In modern slang, monosyllable, it is a familiar shortening of pubic hairs (see pubic).

puberty (n.)

"condition of being able to reproduce, sexual maturity," or, as Johnson has it, "the time of life in which the two sexes begin first to be acquainted;" late 14c., pubertē, from Old French puberté and directly from Latin pubertatem (nominative pubertas) "age of maturity, manhood," from pubes (genitive pubertis) "adult, full-grown, manly," also, as a noun, "the signs of manhood, the private parts; grown-up males," a word of uncertain origin. Related: Puberal; pubertal.

pubescence (n.)

early 15c., "the coming or attainment of puberty," from Medieval Latin pubescentia, abstract noun from Latin pubescentem (nominative pubescens), present participle of pubescere "grow up; ripen, come to maturity; reach the age of puberty, arrive at puberty," from pubes "adult, full-grown" (see pubis). Biological use in reference to hairiness or soft down is by 1760 of plants, 1826 of insects, etc.

pubescent (adj.)

1610s, "arriving at puberty," a back-formation from pubescence or else from French pubescent (early 16c.) or directly from Latin pubescentem (nominative pubescens), present participle of pubescere "to reach puberty." By 1760 in biology, "covered with fine short hairs or down."

pubis (n.)

"a pubic bone, bone structure that forms the anterior wall of the pelvis," 1590s, from Latin pubes (genitive pubis) "genital area, groin," via os pubis "pubic bone." Latin pubes (n.) is related to or identical with pubes (adj.) "adult, full-grown, manly," a word of uncertain origin.

pubic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to the pubis," 1811, with -ic + medical Latin pubis "bone of the groin" (1590s), short for Latin os pubis, from Latin pubes (genitive pubis) "genital area, groin," related to pubes (adj.) "full-grown" (see pubis).

publicity (n.)

1791, "state or condition of being public or open to the observation and inquiry of a community," from French publicité (1690s), from Medieval Latin publicitatem (nominative publicitas), from Latin publicus (see public (adj.)). Sense of "a making (something) known, an exposure to the public" is from 1826, shading by c. 1900 into "advertising, the business of promotion." Publicity stunt is recorded by 1908.

publicize (n.)

1902; see public (adj.) + -ize. Related: Publicized; publicizing.

publicness (n.)

"character of common possession or interest; openness or exposure to notice or knowledge of the community or of people at large," c. 1600, from public (adj.) + -ness.

public (n.)

"the general body of people constituting a nation, state, or community; the nation or state," 1610s, from public (adj.); the meaning "people in general" is from 1660s. In public "in open view, publicly, before the people at large" is attested from c. 1500.

public (adj.)

late 14c., publike, "open to general observation," from Old French public (c. 1300) and directly from Latin publicus "of the people; of the state; done for the state," also "common, general, of or belonging to the people at large; ordinary, vulgar," and as a noun, "a commonwealth; public property." This Latin word was altered (probably by influence of Latin pubes "adult population, adult;" see pubis) from Old Latin poplicus "pertaining to the people," from populus "people" (see people (n.)).

Attested in English from early 15c. as "of or pertaining to the people at large" and from late 15c. as "pertaining to public affairs." The meaning "open to all in the community, to be shared or participated in by people at large" is from 1540s in English. An Old English adjective in this sense was folclic. The sense of "done or made by or on behalf of the community as a whole" is by 1550s; that of "regarding or directed to the interests of the community at large, patriotic" is from c. 1600.

Public relations "the management of the relationship between a company or corporation and the general public" is recorded by 1913 (with an isolated use by Thomas Jefferson in 1807). Public office "position held by a public official" is from 1821; public service is from 1570s; public interest "the common well-being" is from 1670s. Public enemy, one considered a nuisance to the general community, is attested from 1756. Public sector attested from 1949. Public funds (1713) are the funded debts of a government.

Public woman "prostitute" is by 1580s, on the notion of "open for the use of all." For public house, see pub.

publicization (n.)

"act of publicizing," 1962, noun of action from publicize. There is a 1907 use in the sense "a making public" (of bridges built privately, etc.).

publication (n.)

late 14c., publicacioun, "the act of making publicly known, notification to the people at large," from Old French publicacion (14c.) and directly from Latin publicationem (nominative publicatio) "a making public; an adjudging to the public treasury," noun of action from past-participle stem of publicare "make public," from publicus (see public (adj.)).

The meaning "the issuing of a written or printed work to the public by sale or distribution" is recorded by 1570s; as the word for the thing so issued and offered, from 1650s. Compare publicization. Parallel publishment existed alongside this word.

publican (n.)

late 12c., "tax-gatherer for the Roman government," from Old French publician (12c.) and directly from Latin publicanus "a tax collector," noun use of an adjective, "pertaining to public revenue," from publicum "public revenue," noun use of neuter of publicus (see public (adj.)). This original sense is that in Matthew xviii.17, Luke xviii.10-14, etc.

The word that means "keeper of a pub" is recorded by 1728, from public (house), for which see pub, + -an.

publicise (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of publicize. For suffix, see -ize. Related: Publicised; publicising.

publicist (n.)

1792, "person learned in public law or the law of nations," from public (adj.) + -ist. From 1795 in English as "writer on current topics," from French publiciste. In either case a hybrid.

Meaning "press agent" is from 1925 (publicity agent attested by 1900); publicitor also was tried in this sense.

publicly (adv.)

1560s, "in public," from public (adj.) + -ly (2). From 1580s as "by the public." Variant publically is attested by 1812, perhaps based on the fact that publicly is the only exception in this class of words, which as a rule are spelled -ically though often they are pronounced otherwise.

public-mindedness (n.)

"disposition to promote the public interest, public spirit," 1690s, from public (adj.) in the sense of "directed to the interests of the community at large."

public school (n.)

1570s, originally, in Britain, "a grammar school endowed for the benefit of the public," but most have evolved into boarding-schools for the well-to-do. From public (adj.) + school (n.1). The main modern meaning in U.S., "school (usually free) provided at public expense and run by local authorities," is attested from 1640s.

public-spirited (adj.)

"having a disposition to promote the interests or advantage of a community," 1670s, from public (adj.) in the sense of "directed to the interests of the community at large." Related: Public-spiritedness.

publishing (n.)

mid-15c., "act of announcing or declaring," also "the issuing of copies of a book for public sale," verbal noun from publish (v.).