phantasm
/ˈfæntæzəm/ noun
Forms phantasms phantasma fantasm phantasim
- noun Something seen but having no physical reality; a phantom or apparition.
- noun (philosophy) An impression as received by the senses, especially an image, often prior to any interpretation by the intellect.
Synonyms
phantasia apparition phantom phantasma fantasm specter spectre shadow
Etymology
A learned variant of phantom; from Middle English fantosme, from Old French fantosme, fantasme, from Latin phantasma, from Ancient Greek φάντασμα (phántasma). Doublet of phantom.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An image formed by the mind, and supposed to be real or material; a shadowy or airy appearance; sometimes, an optical illusion; a phantom; a dream.
- noun A mental image or representation of a real object; a fancy; a notion. Cudworth.
Etymology [L. phantasma. See Phantom, and cf. Fantasm.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “phantasm”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details