specter

English
WOTD – 26 October 2015

Alternative forms

Etymology

From French spectre, from Latin spectrum (“appearance, apparition”). Doublet of spectrum.

Pronunciation
  • (General American) enPR: spĕkʹtər, IPA(key): /ˈspɛktɚ/
  • (Received Pronunciation) enPR: spĕkʹtə, IPA(key): /ˈspɛktə/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛktə(ɹ)

Noun

specter (plural specters)

  1. A ghostly apparition, a phantom.
    A specter haunted the cemetery at the old Vasquez manor.
  2. (figuratively) A threatening mental image.
    • Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto
      A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of communism. All the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this specter: Pope and Tsar, Metternich and Guizot, French Radicals and German police-spies.

Synonyms
  • spectral
  • specter bat
  • specter candle
  • specter shrimp

Translations

Anagrams

Latin

Verb

specter

  1. first-person singular present passive subjunctive of spectō
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