apparition
pronunciation
How to pronounce apparition in British English:
UK [ˌæpəˈrɪʃn]
How to pronounce apparition in American English:
US [ˌæpəˈrɪʃən]
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- Noun:
- a ghostly appearing figure
- the appearance of a ghostlike figure
- something existing in perception only
- an act of appearing or becoming visible unexpectedly
Word Origin
- apparition
- apparition: see appear
- apparition (n.)
- c. 1500, "unclosing" (of Heaven), from Anglo-French aparicion, Old French apparition, aparoison (15c.), used in reference to the Epiphany (revealing of Christ child to the Wise Men), from Late Latin apparitionem (nominative apparitio) "an appearance," also "attendants," in classical Latin "service, servants," noun of action from past participle stem of apparere "appear" (see appear). Meaning "ghost" first recorded c. 1600; the shade of sense differentiation between appearance and apparition is that the latter tends to be unexpected or startling.
Example
- 1. He saw the apparition of his dead wife .
- 2. A faceless apparition ; the faceless accusers of the police state .
- 3. Vanish in dark , the empty apparition !
- 4. You look as though you 've seen an apparition .
- 5. He was visited by an apparition , a girl mysteriously resembling his daughter .