spectre

3 definitions found

spectre - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Spectre \Spec"tre\, n.
     See Specter.
     [1913 Webster]

  Specter \Spec"ter\, Spectre \Spec"tre\, n. [F. spectre, fr. L.
     spectrum an appearance, image, specter, fr. specere to look.
     See Spy, and cf. Spectrum.]
     1. Something preternaturally visible; an apparition; a ghost;
        a phantom.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The ghosts of traitors from the bridge descend,
              With bold fanatic specters to rejoice. --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.)
        (a) The tarsius.
        (b) A stick insect.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Specter bat (Zool.), any phyllostome bat.
  
     Specter candle (Zool.), a belemnite.
  
     Specter shrimp (Zool.), a skeleton shrimp. See under
        Skeleton.
        [1913 Webster]

spectre - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  spectre
      n 1: a ghostly appearing figure; "we were unprepared for the
           apparition that confronted us" [syn: apparition,
           phantom, phantasm, phantasma, fantasm, specter,
           spectre]
      2: a mental representation of some haunting experience; "he
         looked like he had seen a ghost"; "it aroused specters from
         his past" [syn: ghost, shade, spook, wraith,
         specter, spectre]