Added 9 October 2026
specter
/ˈspɛktɚ/ noun
In Latin: spectrum, phasma Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about specter at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A mental representation of some haunting experience.
he looked like he had seen a ghost
-
A ghostly appearing figure.
we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us
Origin
From Middle French spectre, from Latin spectrum (“appearance, apparition”). Doublet of spectrum.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)