poltergeist

noun

pol·ter·geist ˈpōl-tər-ˌgīst How to pronounce poltergeist (audio)

: a noisy usually mischievous ghost held to be responsible for unexplained noises (such as rappings)

Did you know?

One of the tricks a poltergeist is known for is making "knocking" noises, so it will come as no surprise to learn that the word poltergeist translates literally from German as knocking spirit. The German verb poltern means "to knock, and "Geist" is the German word for "spirit." Another "Geist" descendant in English is "zeitgeist" ("the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era"). The English word ghost is also related; it descends from the same ancient root that led to "Geist." Although "ghost" has been used in English since before the 12th century, "poltergeist" is a relative newcomer, first appearing as an English word in the middle of the 19th century.

Example Sentences

we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains

Recent Examples on the Web But renovations are also haunted by a different kind of poltergeist.

Ingrid Abramovitch, ELLE Decor, 4 Aug. 2022 Parker Posey has joined the ensemble cast of The Parenting, a poltergeist comedy from New Line and HBO Max.

Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2022 There was something about Reitman’s film and approach that was just lightning in a bottle — or a poltergeist in a ghost trap.

James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2022 Some poltergeist action worked its way into the mix.

Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2021 Could this energy, the kind that is projected, perceived, and exchanged, yet purportedly impossible to measure, have somehow spun the monitor’s compass, like a poltergeist or a solar flare?

Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021 In this horror-comedy, a dead couple haunting their country residence enlist the help of a poltergeist named Beetlejuice to rid their home of the Deetz family.

Kathleen Christiansen, orlandosentinel.com, 30 Aug. 2021 There's also Bridgewater Triangle, an area in southeastern Massachusetts that's has allegedly been the site of UFO, Big Foot, giant snake, and poltergeist sightings.

Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2021 Ed acquiesces, until the church calls them overseas to England to look into the Enfield poltergeist of 1977.

Lillian Brown, Vulture, 3 June 2021 See More

单词	poltergeists
释义	poltergeist noun pol·ter·geist ˈpōl-tər-ˌgīst : a noisy usually mischievous ghost held to be responsible for unexplained noises (such as rappings) Did you know? One of the tricks a poltergeist is known for is making "knocking" noises, so it will come as no surprise to learn that the word poltergeist translates literally from German as knocking spirit. The German verb poltern means "to knock, and "Geist" is the German word for "spirit." Another "Geist" descendant in English is "zeitgeist" ("the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era"). The English word ghost is also related; it descends from the same ancient root that led to "Geist." Although "ghost" has been used in English since before the 12th century, "poltergeist" is a relative newcomer, first appearing as an English word in the middle of the 19th century. Synonyms apparition bogey bogie bogy familiar spirit ghost hant [dialect] haunt [chiefly dialect] materialization phantasm fantasm phantom shade shadow specter spectre spirit spook sprite vision visitant wraith See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains Recent Examples on the Web But renovations are also haunted by a different kind of poltergeist. Ingrid Abramovitch, ELLE Decor, 4 Aug. 2022 Parker Posey has joined the ensemble cast of The Parenting, a poltergeist comedy from New Line and HBO Max. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2022 There was something about Reitman’s film and approach that was just lightning in a bottle — or a poltergeist in a ghost trap. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2022 Some poltergeist action worked its way into the mix. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2021 Could this energy, the kind that is projected, perceived, and exchanged, yet purportedly impossible to measure, have somehow spun the monitor’s compass, like a poltergeist or a solar flare? Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021 In this horror-comedy, a dead couple haunting their country residence enlist the help of a poltergeist named Beetlejuice to rid their home of the Deetz family. Kathleen Christiansen, orlandosentinel.com, 30 Aug. 2021 There's also Bridgewater Triangle, an area in southeastern Massachusetts that's has allegedly been the site of UFO, Big Foot, giant snake, and poltergeist sightings. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2021 Ed acquiesces, until the church calls them overseas to England to look into the Enfield poltergeist of 1977. Lillian Brown, Vulture, 3 June 2021 See More Word History Etymology German, from poltern to knock + Geist spirit First Known Use 1848, in the meaning defined above poltergeists noun plural of poltergeist as in spirits the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance spirits ghosts apparitions shadows phantoms specters vampires wraiths visions materializations spooks haunts demons zombies spectres phantasms angels sprites familiar spirits visitants hants bogeys shades fantasms bogies ghouls genies doppelgangers doppelgängers jinn daimones familiars lemures djinns daimons jinns djinn succubi genii genii incubi shaitans doubles devils imps manes fetches cacodemons geniuses lamiae lamias incubuses daemons fiends
随便看	hyoscine hyoscines hyoscyami hyoscyamine hyoscyamines hyoscyamuses hyoscyamusses hyosterna hyosternal hyosternum hyostylic hyostyly hyothere Hyotherium hyothyreoid hyp hyp- hypabyssal hypabyssally hypaethral hypaethrons hypalgias hypallactic hypallage hypallages

poltergeist

noun

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun