psionic adj.

relating to or involving psychic or paranormal phenomena or powers; having psychic ability; cf. psi n., psionics n.

Paranormal

  • 1951 J. Williamson Man From Outside in Astounding Science Fiction Mar. 130/1 page image Jack Williamson bibliography

    The psionic translators rendered his name as Bowman, but its original clicking consonants were unpronounceable.

  • 1951 J. Williamson Peddler’s Nose in Astounding Science Fiction Apr. 39/2 page image Jack Williamson bibliography

    The man spoke a harsh-sounding tongue he had never heard before, but the psionic translator, a tiny device no more conspicuous than the native’s hearing aid, brought the meaning to him instantly.

  • 1951 J. Williamson Peddler’s Nose in Astounding Science Fiction Apr. 44/1 page image Jack Williamson bibliography

    The bright psionic labels looked blank at first, but they came to shining life under the eyes of the children, responding to the thoughts of each.

  • 1967 P. K. Dick Counter-Clock World (1990) 52 Philip K. Dick

    Like Seb he, too, was undoubtedly slightly psionic.

  • 1979 G. R. R. Martin Way of Cross & Dragon in T. Shippey Oxford Book of Science Fiction (1992) 468 George R. R. Martin

    The Church teaches that the psionic powers are one of Satan’s traps.

  • 1982 S. Shwartz Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ethic of Freedom in T. Staicar Feminine Eye (1982) vii. 73

    Have psionic talents been bred into the human line?

  • 1983 S. Marshak & M. Culbreath Triangle v.31 Sondra Marshak Myrna Culbreath bibliography

    He had about as much psionic sensitivity as a potato.

  • 1983 S. Brust Jhereg Introd. 5

    There had been a time…when the lighting of a candle would have left me too weak even for psionic communication.

  • 1985 M. W. Bonanno Dwellers in Crucible i. 24 Margaret Wander Bonanno

    His psionic impulses exploded dangerously into her consciousness.

  • 1986 J. M. Dillard Mindshadow iii.72 J. M. Dillard

    As a result of losing the mind rules, his psionic rating has increased.

  • 2013 K. Lord Best of All Possible Worlds 233 page image Karen Lord bibliography

    I suppose, from what Nasiha tries to teach me and from what I’ve read of the mindships, that’s how the Sadiri mind works. You extend your awareness of yourself beyond the boundaries of your physical body. It’s generally a benign psionic influence—case in point, when you took over the parts of my body that were not under my conscious control and helped me to heal faster.


Research requirements

antedating 1951

Earliest cite

J. Williamson 'Man from Outside'

Research History
Rick Hauptmann submitted a 1951 cite from Jack Williamson's "The Peddler's Nose".
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2013 cite from Karen Lord.

Earliest cite in the OED2: 1952; OED Online now updated to the 1951 Williamson example.

Last modified 2021-12-08 11:45:58
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.