English

Noun

apparition ‎(plural apparitions)

1. An act of becoming visible; appearance; visibility.

   The sudden apparition of the Spaniards. – William H. Prescott.

   The apparition of Lawyer Clippurse occasioned much speculation in that portion of the world. – Sir W. Scott.

2. The thing appearing; a visible object; a form.

   Which apparition, it seems, was you. – Tatler.

3. An unexpected, wonderful, or preternatural appearance; especially something such as a ghost or phantom.

   The attic is haunted by a ghostly apparition of a deceased young girl.

   The heavenly bands . . . a glorious apparition. – John Milton.

   I think it is the weakness of mine eyes That shapes this monstrous apparition. – William Shakespeare

4. (astronomy) The first appearance of a star or other luminary after having been invisible or obscured;—opposed to occultation.
5. (astronomy) A period of consecutive days or nights when a particular celestial body may be observed. An apparition begins with the heliacal rising of the body and ends with its heliacal setting.

Synonyms

• (act of becoming visible): appearance
• (a preternatural appearance): vision
• See also Wikisaurus:ghost

Related terms

• apparent
• appearance

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.pa.ʁi.sjɔ̃/

Noun

apparition f ‎(plural apparitions)

1. appearance
2. ghost
3. (baseball) plate appearance

Synonyms

• (ghost): fantôme
• (plate appearance): apparition au bâton, présence, présence au bâton