haunting
UK: ˈhɔːntɪŋ | US: ˈhɔːntɪŋ
adj. evoking a strong emotional response, often sadness or nostalgia
adj. persistently recurring in the mind; difficult to forget
n. the act of visiting or inhabiting a place as a ghost
The word "haunting" derives from the Old French "hanter," meaning "to frequent" or "to inhabit," which likely originated from Germanic roots related to "home" or "dwelling." Over time, "haunt" evolved to describe both literal ghostly visitations and figurative persistence in memory. The suffix "-ing" transforms the verb into an adjective or noun, emphasizing the lingering, evocative quality of the experience.
The haunting melody brought tears to her eyes.
His haunting memories of the war never faded.
The old castle is said to be haunted by a ghost.
She wrote a haunting poem about lost love.
The documentary left a haunting impression on its viewers.