ghost
UK: ɡəʊst | US: ɡoʊst
n. the spirit of a dead person, often imagined as a pale, shadowy figure
n. a faint trace or semblance of something (e.g., "a ghost of a smile")
v. to ghostwrite (colloquial: to abruptly cut off communication with someone)
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The word "ghost" traces back to Old English gāst, meaning "spirit" or "soul," derived from Proto-Germanic gaistaz. Its meaning has remained remarkably consistent, reflecting the universal human concept of spirits of the deceased. Unlike many words with Latin or Greek roots, "ghost" retains its ancient Germanic structure, making it non-splittable into smaller meaningful parts in modern English. The spelling evolved from Middle English gost to its current form under the influence of Dutch geest.
The old house was rumored to be haunted by a ghost.
He felt a ghost of doubt as he signed the contract.
She decided to ghost her toxic friend without explanation.
The ghost of his past mistakes still troubled him.
Fog curled through the graveyard like a wandering ghost.