phantom English · revision 1655

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfæntəm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''fantosme'', ''fantom'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|fantosme]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Vulgar Latin ''*fantauma'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[la|phantasma|t=apparition]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|φάντασμα|tr=phántasma|t=image, apparition]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline) The ''ph-'' was restored in English in the late 16th century (1590),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) on the model of Latin.^(Barnhart 1995) It is related to [[phantasm]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Illusion, unreality; a delusion or deception (before 1300), senses now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of a ghost or spectre, something seen but with no material substance, is from the late 14th century (1382).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) From 1590 the word also meant an image formed in the mind, an illusion,^(OED 1989) and from 1707 something having the form but not the substance of a real thing.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The adjective dates from the 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and gave rise to uses such as ''phantom limb'', the felt presence of an amputated limb (1871).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – illusion, deception, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1382 – a ghost or apparition.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590 – a mental image; the spelling with ''ph-''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1707 – something with form but no substance.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1871 – ''phantom limb''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something seen, heard or sensed that has no physical reality; a [[ghost]] or [[apparition]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something elusive or deceptive.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An image that exists only in the mind; an [[illusion]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something dreaded or loathed; a [[bugbear]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Being or resembling a phantom; illusory.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[fictitious|alt=Fictitious]]; nonexistent, as in ''phantom voters''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[phantomlike]]

+ * [[phantom limb]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fantasy]]

+ * [[phantasm]]

+ * [[phenomenon]]

+ * [[spectre]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}