Ghasting

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Archaically terrifying or horrifying someone so that they are struck with dread and dismay
2. An old-fashioned verb form meaning to frighten a person badly, leaving them startled and appalled
3. Alarming or dismaying another person to the point of shock, as in archaic English writing

Etymology: "Ghasting" is the present participle of "ghast," a verb meaning to frighten or horrify, so it describes the act of terrifying someone. The verb "ghast" is a variant of "gast," which comes from Middle English "gasten" and Old English "gǣstan," meaning to frighten, afflict, or torment. Old English also had "gāstan," meaning to meditate, and the two forms appear to have merged over time. The "gh" spelling is a later addition. It was shaped by the influence of "ghost," which led writers to add an "h" that the older word never had. The word's modern sense is also tied to "ghastly," since "ghast" is a poetic shortening of that adjective. Its use as a noun was likewise shaped by "ghost," so the spelling reflects a mix of two unrelated sources.

Synonyms: frightening, horrifying