phantasm
Mind's false vision
A phantasm is an apparition or ghostly figure—something seen but not physically present.
The word extends to any illusion or figment of the imagination: The oasis was a phantasm, vanishing as we approached.
Phantasm carries a literary or archaic flavor, suggesting something dreamlike or spectral rather than merely imaginary.
Ghostly threatening presence
- wraithSpectral apparition of someone
- shadeDarkness from blocked light
- ghostApparition of the dead
- spiritSoul, mood, or liquor
revenant · eidolon · visitant · presence · manifestation · haunt · spook · banshee
Atmospheric optical deception
- figmentImagined thing, unreal
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- visionAbility to see
chimera · deception · unreality · trick · distortion · simulacrum · fabrication · misperception
Concealed from view
- séanceSpirit communication ritual
- mediumMiddle size or state
- necromancyCommunicating with the deceased
- summoningCalling forth deliberately
conjuring · otherworldly · paranormal · ectoplasm · spiritualism · beyond · veil · realm
specter
Ghostly threatening presence
spirit · revenant · eidolon · visitant · presence · manifestation · haunt · spook · banshee · fetch
mirage
Atmospheric optical deception
- figmentImagined thing, unreal
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
vision · chimera · deception · unreality · trick · distortion · simulacrum · fabrication · misperception · optical
occult
Concealed from view
- séanceSpirit communication ritual
- mediumMiddle size or state
- necromancyCommunicating with the deceased
summoning · conjuring · otherworldly · paranormal · ectoplasm · spiritualism · beyond · veil · realm · dimension
nightmare
Frightening dream causing wakefulness
haunting · menace · creepy · chilling · eerie · uncanny · goosebumps · spine-tingling · ominous · foreboding
daydream
Conscious fantasy while awake
conjuring · dreamscape · make-believe · whimsy · visionary · fanciful · invented · dreamed · imagined · unreal
- ghostsapparitions, ghosts, apparition, phantoms, specter
- mysteriousmysterious, cryptic, enigmatic, arcane, obscure
- spiritsghost, vodka, rum, whiskey, brandy
- Old Spellingsaether, connexion, magick, shew, shoppe
- memoryremember, forget, recall, memorize, recollect
- dreamsnightmare, dreaming, daydream, nightmares, dreams
phantasmreality
What actually exists
actuality · fact · truth · real thing · certainty
phantasmflesh and blood
One's close relatives
body · solid · physical body · mortal · embodiment