psychagogic, a.
(ps-, saɪkəˈgɒdʒɪk)
[ad. Gr. ψῡχαγωγικός attractive to the mind, persuasive, f. ψῡχαγωγία winning of the mind, persuasion, f. ψῡχαγωγός: see next. In mod.F. psychagogique.]
1. Influencing or leading the mind or soul; persuasive, attractive.
| 1846 Grote Greece i. xvi. I. 573 When we examine the psychagogic influences predominant in the society among whom this belief originally grew up. 1871 Morley Vauvenargues in Crit. Misc. Ser. i. 15, Essential conditions of psychagogic quality. |
2. (= Gr. ψῡχαγωγός.) Conjuring up or evoking the spirits of the dead. rare—1.
| 1892 Edin. Rev. CLXXV. 423 In the play of the ‘Choëphoræ’ [Agamemnon's] royal shade, powerful in the realm of death, is wrought upon by the long psychagogic odes to succour his avengers. |
3. Med. (See quots.)
| 1890 Billings Med. Dict., Psychagogic,..having power to arouse or restore consciousness or mental activity. 1895 Syd. Soc. Lex., Psychagogic,..epithet applied to restorative medicines. |
So psychaˈgogical a., that leads the mind; hence psychaˈgogically adv., persuasively.
| 1822 Grote Anal. Infl. Nat. Relig. ii. ii. §6. 139 The mental (or psychagogical [ed. 1875 psychological]) machinery of the priest-hood is excellent; but they are unhappily deficient in physical force. 1849 J. Wilson in Blackw. Mag. Nov. 645 Has any more versed and profound master in criticism, before or since, authentically and authoritatively,..psychagogically, propounded..the Dogma? |