ghastly etymology

Etymology:

  • Old English gæstlic (10th century), meaning "terrible, dreadful, fearful"
  • Proto-West Germanic *gaistiligoz
  • Proto-Germanic *gaistaz
  • Proto-Indo-European root *gʰeis- ("to terrify")

Meaning and Origin:

The word "ghastly" originally meant "fearful" or "terrible." It comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰeis-, which means "to terrify." This root also gave rise to the words "ghost" and "aghast."

The Old English term gæstlic was used to describe things that were terrifying or awe-inspiring, such as ghosts or demons. Over time, the meaning of the word shifted to refer to things that were simply very unpleasant or repulsive.

Today, "ghastly" is used to describe something that is extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or shocking. It can be used to describe both physical and emotional experiences. For example, someone might describe a gruesome wound as "ghastly" or a terrifying nightmare as "ghastly."

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