Phantasmal: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ป
phantasmal
[ หfรฆn.tษz.mษl ]
literary, supernatural
The term 'phantasmal' refers to something that is ghostly or spectral in nature. It derives from the word 'phantasm,' which implies an illusion or a phantom. In literature, it often describes scenes or characters that evoke a sense of the unreal or otherworldly. This term is commonly used to evoke feelings of eeriness or to describe apparitions that are not tangible. Phantasmal entities are often depicted in nightmares, dreams, or folklore as beings that are difficult to define or measure.
Synonyms
ghostly, illusory, phantom, spectral, unreal.
Examples of usage
- The phantasmal figure hovered in the moonlight.
- She experienced a phantasmal dream that felt surreal.
- The artist's work was filled with phantasmal imagery.
- Legends tell of a phantasmal ship lost in the fog.
Translations
Translations of the word "phantasmal" in other languages:
๐ต๐น fantasmal
๐ฎ๐ณ เคญเฅเคคเคฟเคฏเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช phantasmal
๐ฎ๐ฉ khayalan
๐บ๐ฆ ัะฐะฝัะฐะทะผะฐะปัะฝะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ fantazmatyczny
๐ฏ๐ต ๅนปๆณ็ใช
๐ซ๐ท fantasmagorique
๐ช๐ธ fantasmal
๐น๐ท hayali
๐ฐ๐ท ํ์์ ์ธ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฎูุงูู
๐จ๐ฟ fantasmรกlnรญ
๐ธ๐ฐ fantazmรกlny
๐จ๐ณ ๅนปๅฝฑ็
๐ธ๐ฎ fantazmalen
๐ฎ๐ธ fantasmal
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะฐะฝัะฐะทะผะฐะปะดั
๐ฌ๐ช แคแแแขแแแแฃแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ fantazm
๐ฒ๐ฝ fantasmal
Etymology
The word 'phantasmal' originates from the Greek word 'phantasma,' which means 'an appearance, a ghost, or an illusion.' This term made its way into Middle English, where it was used to denote a vague or illusory notion. Over time, its meaning has evolved to encompass anything that is ethereal or ghost-like. The suffix '-al' indicates it is an adjective. The connection to the supernatural is strong in this word's usage, especially in literary contexts. The fascination with phantoms and spectral beings has persisted through various cultures, often embodied in ghost stories and folklore. Language and literature have contributed to the richness of the term, cementing its association with the mysterious and the unimaginable.