aghast
UK: əˈɡɑːst | US: əˈɡæst
adj. filled with horror or shock
adj. struck with overwhelming fear
"Aghast" originated in Middle English as agast, combining the intensive prefix "a-" with the root "gast" (meaning "frightened"). The word evolved to emphasize a state of profound terror, influenced by the eerie connotations of "ghost." Its spelling shifted to "ghast" in the 16th century, aligning with "ghost" to reinforce the sense of supernatural dread. The logic traces back to primal fears of the unseen, making "aghast" a vivid descriptor for shock rooted in horror.
She stood aghast at the sight of the wreckage.
The audience was aghast when the villain revealed his plan.
He looked aghast after hearing the tragic news.
The teacher was aghast at the student’s blatant disrespect.
They were aghast to discover their home had been burglarized.