apparition
ap-uh-RISH-un
/ˌæp.əˈrɪʃ.ən/
A ghost or ghostlike image of a person; a remarkable or unexpected appearance.
Emphasizes the sudden visual manifestation of something spectral, otherworldly, or unexpected.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'apparere' (to come into sight). In Classical Latin, 'apparitio' meant official attendance or service. In Late Latin and Early Modern English, the term shifted toward spiritual appearances, eventually becoming the standard word for a sudden ghostly vision.
Word relationships
- phantom: Phantom emphasizes illusory or non-physical nature, while apparition focuses on the visual act of appearing.
- specter: Specter carries a heavier connotation of looming threat or foreboding than apparition.
- reality: Reality is physical and tangible, unlike a spectral apparition.
- material object: A concrete physical entity, opposite of a phantom vision.
Commonly confused with
- appearance: Appearance is the general act of coming into view; an apparition specifically implies a phantom or ghostly manifestation.
Word family
- apparitional (adjective): Pertaining to or resembling an apparition.
- apparitions (noun): Plural form of apparition.
Collocations
- spectral apparition
- fleeting apparition
- apparition appeared
Example sentences
- "A shimmering pale apparition appeared at the top of the staircase before vanishing into thin air." Ghost Story
- "To the terrified villagers, the figure emerging from the mist seemed less like a man and more like an apparition." Historical Fiction
Memory hook
An APPARITION APPEARS into view and startles you. Sudden spectral manifestation.
When not to use
Do not use for tangible, solid objects that are present permanently; it implies sudden or phantom appearance.
Fun facts
- In Victorian times, 'spirit photography' claimed to capture real apparitions on film using double exposures.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.