apparition

apparition
    n 1: a ghostly appearing figure; "we were unprepared for the
         apparition that confronted us" [syn: {apparition},
         {phantom}, {phantasm}, {phantasma}, {fantasm}, {specter},
         {spectre}]
    2: the appearance of a ghostlike figure; "I was recalled to the
       present by the apparition of a frightening specter"
    3: something existing in perception only; "a ghostly apparition
       at midnight" [syn: {apparition}, {phantom}, {phantasm},
       {phantasma}, {fantasm}, {shadow}]
    4: an act of appearing or becoming visible unexpectedly;
       "natives were amazed at the apparition of this white
       stranger"
    

Apparition \Ap`pa*ri"tion\, n. [F. apparition, L. apparitio, fr.
   apparere. See {Appear}.]
   1. The act of becoming visible; appearance; visibility.
      --Milton.
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            The sudden apparition of the Spaniards. --Prescott.
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            The apparition of Lawyer Clippurse occasioned much
            speculation in that portion of the world. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   2. The thing appearing; a visible object; a form.
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            Which apparition, it seems, was you.  --Tatler.
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   3. An unexpected, wonderful, or preternatural appearance; a
      ghost; a specter; a phantom. "The heavenly bands . . . a
      glorious apparition." --Milton.
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            I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
            That shapes this monstrous apparition. --Shak.
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   4. (Astron.) The first appearance of a star or other luminary
      after having been invisible or obscured; -- opposed to
      {occultation}.
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   {Circle of perpetual apparition}. See under {Circle}.
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118 Moby Thesaurus words for "apparition":
      Masan, appearance, appearing, arising, astral, astral spirit,
      avatar, banshee, bogey, brainchild, bubble, chimera, coming,
      coming into being, coming-forth, control, corposant, delirium,
      delusion, departed spirit, disclosure, disembodied spirit, duppy,
      dybbuk, eidolon, emergence, epiphany, exposure, false image, fancy,
      fantasque, fantasy, fiction, figment, figure, form, forthcoming,
      ghost, grateful dead, guide, hallucination, hant, haunt,
      idle fancy, idolum, illusion, image, imagery, imagination,
      imagining, immateriality, incarnation, incorporeal,
      incorporeal being, incorporeity, insubstantial image, invention,
      issuance, larva, lemures, maggot, make-believe, manes,
      manifestation, marshfire, materialization, materializing, mirage,
      myth, occurrence, oni, opening, phantasm, phantasma,
      phantasmagoria, phantom, phasm, phenomenon, poltergeist, presence,
      presentation, realization, revelation, revenant, rise, rising,
      romance, shade, shadow, shape, showing, showing forth,
      shrouded spirit, sick fancy, specter, spectral ghost, spectrum,
      spirit, spook, sprite, theophany, thick-coming fancies, trip,
      umbra, unfolding, unfoldment, unsubstantiality, vapor, vision,
      waking dream, walking dead man, wandering soul, whim, whimsy,
      wildest dream, wildest dreams, wraith, zombie