Meaning & Definition of word "Ghostly"
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Ghostly
/ˈɡoʊstli/
adjective:
- 1. Relating to or resembling a ghost; often used to describe a spectral appearance or an eerie atmosphere.
- Example: The ghostly figure flickered in the dim light, sending shivers down her spine.
- 2. Pale or ethereal in appearance, as though lacking substance.
- Example: The ghostly glow of the moon illuminated the empty street.
- 3. Having a haunting or eerie quality; suggestive of something supernatural or otherworldly.
- Example: A ghostly silence enveloped the abandoned house, making it feel even more unsettling.
- 4. Suggestive of a spirit or specter; insubstantial.
- Example: He heard a ghostly whisper in the wind that seemed to call his name.
- 5. Mysterious or elusive, often evoking a feeling of nostalgia.
- Example: She had a ghostly memory of her childhood that haunted her thoughts.
Etymology
From Middle English 'ghostli', from 'ghost' + '-ly', meaning 'in the manner of a ghost'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
ghostly presence:
an apparition or a feeling of a spirit being present.
ghostly voice:
a voice that sounds ethereal or disembodied.
ghostly silence:
a silence that is eerie or unnerving, as if haunted.
Related Words
ghost:
a spirit of a dead person that appears to the living.
phantom:
a ghostly appearing figure; an illusion.
spirit:
the non-physical part of a person, often regarded as immortal.
Slang Meanings of ghostly
Meaning: To ghost someone
Example Sentence: He just ghosted her after their first date.
Meaning: Feeling ghostly
Example Sentence: After that night out, I feel so ghostly and tired.