pretan.

1811 W. Ward Acct. Hindoos III. 409 After death the soul becomes prātŭ, viz. takes a body about the size of a person's thumb, and dwells with Yŭmŭ, the judge of the dead... If the shraddhŭ be not performed, the deceased remains in the prātŭ state, and can never ascend to heaven.

1889 M. Monier-Williams Buddhism ix. 219 The Pretas are beings of the nature of ghosts and goblins who have recently inhabited the earth, and are often of gigantic size and terrific appearance, with dried up limbs, hairy countenances, enormous bellies, ever consumed with hunger and thirst, and yet never able to eat or drink by reason of their contracted throats.

1913 J. N. Farquhar Crown of Hinduism ii. 84 The belief is that the spirit remains a preta (i.e. a wandering ghost), unless it receives this food.

1933 E. J. Thomas Hist. Buddhist Thought ix. 110 Several modifications were introduced by the Buddhists into the Hindu doctrine of reincarnation. The term preta (peta) was retained..but was made one of the five possible careers of existence (gati) for beings that are reborn. These are (1) hell, (2) birth as an animal, (3) birth as a preta, (4) birth as a man, (5) birth as a god.

1953 H. Zimmer Philosophies of India 399 Pretas and bhūtas: these are members of the host of minor demonic beings presided over by Śiva.

1976 Blackwood's Mag. Nov. 457/1 Hindu folklore is overpopulated with spirits of all kinds—Prets and Bhuts and all kinds of mischievous ghosts.

2004 P. J. Conradi Going Buddhist 36 Its strange denizens, known as Pretas, have fat bellies but tiny necks, and, despite stuffing themselves, never reach satiation: a potent image of consumerism, the neverending pursuit of ‘durables’ that cannot deeply satisfy.