apparition

American  

[ap-uh-rish-uhn] / ˌæp əˈrɪʃ ən /

noun

1. a supernatural appearance of a person or thing, especially a ghost; a specter or phantom; wraith.

   a ghostly apparition at midnight.

   Synonyms:

   shade, spirit

2. anything that appears, especially something remarkable or startling.

   the surprising apparition of cowboys in New York City.

3. an act of appearing; manifestation.

4. Astronomy. the appearance or time when a comet, especially a periodic one, is visible.

   the 1986 apparition of Halley's comet.

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apparition British  

/ ˌæpəˈrɪʃən /

noun

1. an appearance, esp of a ghost or ghostlike figure

2. the figure so appearing; phantom; spectre

3. the act of appearing or being visible

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Related Words

Apparition, phantasm, phantom are terms for a supernatural appearance. An apparition of a person or thing is an immaterial appearance that seems real, and is generally sudden or startling in its manifestation: an apparition of a headless horseman. Both phantom and phantasm denote an illusory appearance, as in a dream; the former may be pleasant, while the latter is usually frightening: a phantom of loveliness; a monstrous phantasm.

Other Word Forms

• apparitional adjective
• nonapparitional adjective

Etymology

Origin of apparition

1400–50; late Middle English apparicio ( u ) n < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin appāritiōn- (stem of appāritiō, as calque of Greek epipháneia epiphany ), equivalent to Latin appārit ( us ) (past participle of appārēre; appear ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Aunt Kitty glided down the steps without a sound and moved along the path like a ghostly apparition.

From Literature

The apparition loomed before them, pale as the moon.

From Literature

One of the finest stories here, “Late,” involves another apparition.

From Los Angeles Times

It is said that her parents took her to the shrine where she knelt before the place where the apparition was seen.

From BBC

Given that apparitions or other sightings are private experiences for individuals, the church does not require the faithful to accept the authenticity of such events.

From New York Times