ghost
ghost
Pronunciation
/goʊst/
/ɡ/ - voiced velar stop
/oʊ/ - diphthong (as in "boat")
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: ghost
Plural Noun: ghosts
Verb (base form): ghost
Verb (third-person singular present): ghosts
Verb (present participle): ghosting
Verb (past tense): ghosted
Verb (past participle): ghosted
Adjective: ghostly (derived from ghost, meaning resembling a ghost)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The disembodied spirit of a deceased person, believed to appear to the living as a hazy, often translucent, apparition or spectral form.
Synonyms: apparition, spirit, specter, phantom, wraith, poltergeist
Antonyms: body, corporeal being, living person
Definition 2: A faint or barely perceptible image, trace, or shadow of something that once existed or was present.
Synonyms: trace, semblance, shadow, hint, vestige, residue
Antonyms: substantiality, presence, reality, fullness
Verb
Definition 1: To haunt or frequent a place as a ghost, typically in a supernatural or unsettling manner.
Synonyms: haunt, appear (as a specter), lurk (as a spirit)
Antonyms: abandon, vacate, depart (permanently)
Definition 2: To end a relationship by suddenly ceasing all communication without explanation, especially in online dating or social interactions.
Synonyms: disappear, vanish, cut off, unfriend (figuratively)
Antonyms: communicate, explain, confront, reciprocate
Definition 3: To move silently and imperceptibly, as if like a ghost.
Synonyms: glide, flit, sneak, creep, slink
Antonyms: stride, march, trudge, stomp
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a dark and stormy night, and a chill went down my spine as I felt a presence, as if a ghost were watching me from the shadows." (Fictional Narrative)
"In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him about his impending fate." (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)
Newspapers:
"The old mansion is rumored to be ghosted by the spirit of its former owner, with strange noises reported late at night." (Local Community Newspaper, e.g., The Willow Creek Gazette)
"Police are investigating a series of unexplained disappearances, leading some residents to fear a 'ghost' criminal is operating in the area." (The Daily Herald)
Online Publications:
"How to Get Over Being Ghosted: A Guide to Moving On After Someone Disappears From Your Life." (Self-help article, e.g., Psychology Today online)
"Researchers are using advanced imaging techniques to uncover the 'ghost' cities of ancient civilizations, revealing lost structures beneath the earth." (Science news website, e.g., National Geographic Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The movie Ghostbusters features a team of parapsychologists who capture and contain ghosts haunting New York City." (Ghostbusters, Columbia Pictures)
Television Series: "In the popular show Supernatural, the Winchester brothers frequently battle vengeful ghosts and other spectral entities." (Supernatural, The CW)
Video Games: "Players often encounter ghosts and other supernatural creatures in horror video games, where they must find ways to defeat or evade them." (e.g., Phasmophobia, Outlast)
Music: "The song's lyrics speak of a love that has faded, leaving only a ghost of what it once was." (Pop Song Lyrics)
General Public Discourse:
"I tried to reach out to them, but they just completely ghosted me after our first date." (Casual conversation among friends)
"Even after all these years, the memory of that terrible event still ghosts me, appearing in my nightmares." (Personal reflection in a discussion)
"The old factory is just a ghost of its former self; all the machinery is gone, and the building is crumbling." (Describing a decaying structure)
"He's been very quiet lately, almost as if he's a ghost in the room, barely speaking a word." (Describing someone's reserved demeanor)
10 Famous Quotes Using Ghost
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." (Often paraphrased to include "ghosts" or refer to the supernatural) (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"The past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now." (Bill Cosby)
"I believe in ghosts and spirits and things that go bump in the night." (Unknown, common folklore saying)
"Every man has a ghost of his past following him." (Unknown, proverbial)
"A good conscience is a continual Christmas." (While not directly using "ghost," it implies a lack of haunting guilt, a common ghost metaphor) (Benjamin Franklin)
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light." (A variation on a quote often attributed to various historical figures, implying that hidden truths, like ghosts, will eventually be revealed)
"We are haunted by the ghosts of the things we didn't say." (Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven)
"Fear makes ghosts." (Proverbial saying)
"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis." (While not using "ghost," this quote implies the moral haunting or consequence for inaction, a metaphorical ghost) (Dante Alighieri, Inferno, though often misattributed to him in this exact phrasing)
"Old habits die hard, like a ghost refusing to leave its favorite haunting ground." (Original metaphorical quote)
Etymology
The word "ghost" has a really old and interesting history! It's one of those words that has changed its meaning a bit over many centuries.
Imagine going way, way back to the earliest forms of English. The word "ghost" comes from the Old English word "gāst." Now, "gāst" didn't just mean a spooky apparition like we think of today. Its original meaning was much broader, encompassing things like:
Breath: Think of the life force that comes with breathing.
Spirit: The non-physical part of a person, their soul.
Animate being: Sometimes even referring to a living creature.
Good or bad spirit: This could be an angel, a demon, or any kind of supernatural being. This is why we still have the term "Holy Ghost" in religious contexts – referring to the Holy Spirit.
Where did "gāst" come from?
"Gāst" itself can be traced back to an even older language called Proto-Germanic (this is the ancient root language for English, German, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages). In Proto-Germanic, the word was something like "*gaistaz," which carried similar meanings of "spirit" or "ghost."
Even further back, some linguists believe this word might be connected to an ancient Indo-European root that had to do with "agitation," "anger," or "excitement." This connection makes sense, as the idea of a spirit, especially a restless one, often evokes strong emotions.
The "gh" mystery:
You might notice the "gh" in "ghost" but hear a hard "g" sound. This "h" wasn't always there! The word in earlier English was spelled "gost." The "h" was added around the 15th century, partly due to the influence of Flemish and Middle Dutch. Their word for spirit was often spelled with a "gh" (like "gheest"), and English printers and scribes, notably William Caxton, started adopting that spelling.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The Old English form "gāst" was in use before the 12th century.
At that time, its primary meaning was "spirit" or "soul" in a very general sense. The more specific meaning of "the disembodied spirit of a dead person appearing to the living" became more common and dominant during the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500 AD).
So, in simple terms, "ghost" started out as a word for the very essence of life – breath, spirit, soul – and gradually evolved to become the word we use today for the spectral figures we imagine haunting old houses!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ghost
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "ghost":
Give up the ghost: To die; to stop functioning.
The ghost in the machine: A non-material entity or force that operates or controls a complex system.
Ghost town: A deserted town with few or no remaining inhabitants.
Ghost story: A narrative about ghosts, often intended to be frightening.
Ghost writer: A person who writes books, articles, speeches, etc., for another person who is then credited as the author.
Ghost of a chance: A very slight or remote possibility.
Ghost of a smile/memory: A faint or barely perceptible trace of something.
To ghost someone: To suddenly end all communication with someone without explanation (especially in dating).
Like a ghost: Moving silently, imperceptibly, or quickly.
The ghost of Christmas past/present/future: (From A Christmas Carol) Referring to a haunting reminder of a past, present, or future state.
Haunted by the ghost of...: Troubled by persistent memories or consequences of something past.
To walk with the ghosts: To be deeply affected by past events or people.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ghost from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
