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poltergeist Definition

pol·ter·geist (pōltər gīst′)

noun

a kind of ghost thought by some to be responsible for mysterious noisy disturbances

Etymology: Ger < poltern, to make noise, rumble (< IE base *bhel- > bell) + geist, ghost

poltergeist Synonyms

poltergeist

n.

spirit, spook, supernatural visitant; see ghost 1, 2.

poltergeist Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • suspect: As all the doors and windows to the room were still locked when we discovered the scene, we first suspected a poltergeist.
  • get: He did allow that in Ireland, houses built on fairy paths tent to get poltergeists which make things go bump in the night.

Converse of subject

  • haunt: The Windmill The Windmill was once said to be haunted by a poltergeist.
  • plague: If the shadow leaves you cold, we hear tell the cells there have been plagued by a poltergeist too.

Modifies a noun

  • phenomenon: Poltergeist phenomena seemed almost invariably associated with the presence of a 12 or 13 year old.
  • activity: There is a story in my book about poltergeist activity in an old people's home.
  • case: But out of 500 cases analyzed, this has never happened in a poltergeist case.
  • disturbance: All signs pointed to a classic case of poltergeist disturbance.
  • effect: Far from word of this appearing, he later tried to make out that it was a genuine poltergeist effect.. .
  • incident: Although some poltergeist incidents can be explained away as wicked horseplay there are others which, disturbingly, defy explanation.

Browse dictionary entries near poltergeist

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