Definition

1. Noun:
   • A ghost or phantom; a visible disembodied spirit: A "spectre" is a ghostly apparition, a visible but insubstantial image of a dead person or other supernatural entity.
   • A haunting mental image or source of fear: A "spectre" can also be a disturbing mental image or a looming threat that causes anxiety or dread.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Ghostly Apparition):

  • The old castle is said to be haunted by a spectre.
  • He claimed to have seen a pale spectre floating down the hallway.

• Noun (Source of Fear or Anxiety):

  • The spectre of unemployment haunted the factory workers.
  • The country faced the grim spectre of famine.

Advanced Usage

• "to raise a spectre": To bring a frightening possibility or memory into consideration.
  • The new evidence raised the spectre of a wider conspiracy.
• "the spectre of [something]": A very common construction to describe a pervasive threat or fear.
  • Politicians warned of the spectre of inflation.

Variants and Related Words

• Specter: The standard American English spelling of "spectre" (British English).
• Spectral (adj): Relating to or resembling a spectre; ghostly.
  • The figure had a spectral glow.
• Spectrally (adv): In a spectral manner.

Synonyms

• Ghost: The spirit of a dead person.
• Phantom: A figment of the imagination; an apparition.
• Apparition: A supernatural appearance of a person or thing, especially a ghost.
• Wraith: A ghost or ghostlike image of someone, often seen shortly before or after their death.
• Bogey: A cause of fear, often imaginary.

Idioms and Phrases

• "The spectre at the feast": A person or thing that casts a pall over an otherwise enjoyable occasion, reminding everyone of an unpleasant reality.
  • His gloomy predictions were the spectre at the feast, ruining the celebratory mood.

Noun

1. a mental representation of some haunting experience
   • he looked like he had seen a ghost
   • it aroused specters from his past
2. a ghostly appearing figure
   • we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us