Word: ghost Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English gost, from Old English gāst, gǣst (“breath, spirit, soul, ghost”) (compare modern English Holy Ghost), from Proto-West Germanic *gaist, from Proto-Germanic *gaistaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰéysdos, from *ǵʰéysd- (“anger, agitation”). The h in the spelling appears in the Prologue to William Caxton’s Royal Book, printed in 1484, in a reference to the “Holy Ghoost”. It was likely influenced by Middle Dutch gheest, a common variant of geest. Both Caxton and his assistant Wynkyn de Worde had connections to the Low Countries. Doublet of geist. The adjective and verb are derived from the noun. The verb gained prominence in the 2010s. cognates * Danish gast (“ghost”), gejst (“enthusiasm”) * Dutch geest (“ghost, spirit”) * German Geist (“ghost, spirit”) * Luxembourgish Geescht (“ghost, spirit, spectre, phantom”) * Saterland Frisian Gäist, Jeest (“ghost, spirit”) * Scots gaist, ghaist (“ghost”) * Swedish gast (“ghost”) * Vilamovian gȧjst (“ghost, spirit”) * West Frisian geast (“ghost, spirit”) * Yiddish גײַסט (gayst, “ghost, spirit”) * Yola gaast (“ghost”) Pronunciation: /ɡəʊst/, /ɡoʊst/, /ɡɐʉst/, /ɡʱoːsʈ/, /ɡoːsʈ/ 1. Of a disembodied soul: to appear (somewhere or to someone) in the form of an apparition; to haunt. Labels: literary, poetic, transitive Example: since Julius Caesar, / Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted 2. To imbue (something) with a ghost-like effect or hue. Labels: literary, poetic, transitive Example: It spread slowly up from the sea-rim, a welling upwards of pure white light, ghosting the beach with silver and drawing the grey bastions of sandstone out of formless space. 3. To continuously cause (someone or something) trouble; specifically, to continuously be in the thoughts of (someone) in a disturbing manner; to perturb, to trouble. Labels: broadly, figuratively, transitive 4. To kill (someone). Labels: broadly, figuratively, slang, transitive Example: My recommendation: Do me. Don't take the chance that I'll get shiv-happy on your wannabe ass. Ghost me, Riddick. Would if I were you. Though I notice he tried to ghost my ass. When he shot up that stranger instead. Example: He just ghosted two guys, and I never even saw him. Plan was to clean the bank, ghost the mercs, break wide through the tunnel. 5. To gray out (a visual element) to indicate that it is unavailable. Labels: broadly, figuratively, transitive Example: Whenever a menu or menu item is inappropriate or unavailable for selection, it should be ghosted. Never allow the user to select something that does nothing in response. 6. To forcibly disconnect (an IRC user) who is using one's reserved nickname. Labels: Internet, broadly, figuratively, transitive Example: I'm so untechnical that I once ghosted a registered IRC nick and then tried to identify myself to NickServ with the valid password before actually changing my nick to the aforementioned moniker. 7. To stop communicating with (someone) on social media, through text messages, etc., without explanation, especially as a way of ending a relationship; hence, to end a relationship with (someone) by stopping all communication without explanation. Labels: broadly, figuratively, slang, transitive Example: I've recently been trying out Tinder, and while I match with people and even chat with them everything seems to be going well, but whenever I bring up meeting IRL, they are quick to ghost me. Example: By 6 p.m., I had a list of restaurants to try from Hamish, a chef who couldn't meet, a follow-up from Adam ("I've never seen a room at the Ace...."), and an offer from Agoraphobic Paul to come over and "have a joint and a cuddle." I'd confirmed a walking tour of Greenwich from Max, who ghosted. 8. To transfer (a prisoner) to another prison, usually without first informing the prisoner. Labels: UK, broadly, figuratively, transitive Example: His power base, however, is undermined by him being constantly, “ghosted”, or moved from prison to prison. 9. Synonym of ghostwrite (“to write (a literary work or speech), or produce (an artistic work)), in the place of someone”); also, to carry out (an artistic performance) in the place of someone. Labels: transitive Example: Here's how it went: Larry Parks as elderly Al Jolson was watching Larry Parks playing young Al Jolson in the first movie — in other words, Parks ghosting for Parks. At the same time, Jolson himself was ghosting the voices for both of them. Example: Well, you wrote a few books, you wrote a famous play, and even that was half ghosted. 10. To appear suddenly or move like a disembodied soul; specifically (often sports); also (transitive, dated) followed by the dummy subject it: to move easily and quietly without anyone noticing; to slip. Labels: intransitive Example: Arsenal came into the match under severe pressure and nerves were palpable early on as Pratley was brilliantly denied by Szczesny after ghosting in front of Kieran Gibbs Example: At the flank of the main stage, I took root for an hour, until a female form ghosted in front of me that I recognised from university two years before. 11. Followed by for: synonym of ghostwrite (“to write a literary work or speech, or produce an artistic work, in the place of someone”); also, to carry out an artistic performance in the place of someone. Labels: intransitive 12. Of a sailing vessel: to sail seemingly with very little or no wind. Labels: intransitive Example: They move without any visible sign of movement, like a wakeless ship ghosting over the water. 13. Apparently only in the writings of the Dutch-English physician Gideon Harvey (c. 1636–1640 – c. 1700–1702): to die, to expire. Labels: intransitive, obsolete