phantom

English

/ˈfæntəm/

noun
Definitions
  • A ghost or apparition.
  • Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality; an image that appears only in the mind; an illusion or delusion.
  • (bridge) A placeholder for a pair of players when there are an odd number of pairs playing.
  • (medical imaging) A test object.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English fantom, fantum borrowed from Old French fantosme derived from Latin phantasma (specter, apparition, an apparition, LL) derived from Ancient Greek φάντασμα (ghost, image, phantom, apparition, an appearance, specter, phantasm).

Origin

Ancient Greek

φάντασμα

Gloss

ghost, image, phantom, apparition, an appearance, specter, phantasm

Concept
Semantic Field

Religion and belief

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Emoji
👻

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms