spook

terrify

verb. scare

Word Origin & History

1801, from Dutch spook, from Middle Dutch spooc "spook, ghost," from a common Germanic source (cf. German Spuk "ghost, apparition," Middle Low German spok "spook," Swedish spok "scarecrow," Norwegian spjok "ghost, specter," Danish spøg "joke"), of unknown origin. Possible outside connections include Lettish spigana "dragon, witch," spiganis "will o' the wisp," Lithuanian spingu, spingeti "to shine," Old Prussian spanksti "spark."

Meaning "undercover agent" is attested from 1942. The derogatory racial sense of "black person" is attested from 1940s, perhaps from notion of dark skin being difficult to see at night. Black pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute during World War II called themselves the Spookwaffe.

Example Sentences forspook

The exciting evening with the Hoag spook had worked no lasting harm.

I'd have given more for her if I had known she owned a spook.

It gets me what she was doing in that spook place alone at night.

Here, according to report, the spook sank into a sunken grave.

I'll round up this spook tonight for good, and then the vassal's task is done.

(Interrupting and looking at Duke) In just what way do you connect this spook with the treasure?

Then you can come back at your leisure and keep the spook compact.

I have been sneered at as a "spiritualist," a "spook hunter," an "agnostic."

But sure it must be, seeing you have a voice of your own, which is a thing never yet given to a spook.

I made sure it was a spook, an' there wasn't a bit o' breath left in me.

spook

stirred

terrify

terrorize

threaten

threatens

trail

trailed

trouble

spook

More words related to spook