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aghast definition

aghast (ə gast′, -gäst′)

adjective

feeling great horror or dismay; terrified; horrified

Etymology: ME agast, pp. of agasten, to terrify < a-, intens. + gasten < OE gaestan, to terrify < gast, ghost

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

aghast Synonyms

aghast

modif.

horrified, alarmed, appalled, dismayed; see afraid 2, bewildered, shocked.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

aghast Usage Examples

Preposition: at

  • idea: Donna is aghast at the idea, but Tanya and Rosie press the suggestion, with their song Dancing Queen.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • leave: Does this not leave the intelligent person aghast at the pool of sheer stupidity that is amassed in labs?

Modifying Another Word

  • so: But I was so aghast at the cost that I thought ' there has to be a better way ' .

Infinitive complement

  • see: I was aghast to see a picture of a shopping trolley, not a trolley-bus.

Used with adjective complement

  • stare: He was staring aghast at the sudden appearance of Kemp, followed by the extraordinary sight of clothing tossing empty in the air.

Preposition: with

  • horror: The women closed round, whilst I was aghast with horror.
aghast usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"aghast." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/aghast>

APA Style

aghast. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/aghast

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