phasm

English

Alternative forms

• phasma

Etymology

Latin phasma or Ancient Greek φάσμα (phásma). See phase.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæzəm/
• Rhymes: -æzəm

Noun

phasm (plural phasms or phasma)

1. (obsolete) An apparition; a phantom.
   • 1654, H[enry] Hammond, Of Fundamentals in a Notion Referring to Practise, London: […] J[ames] Flesher for Richard Royston, […], →OCLC:

     For heart is besides that from thence proceed many aerial fictions , and not from God, phasms, and chimeras , created by the vanity of our own hearts

   • 1677, Sir Thomas Herbert, Some Yeares Travels into Africa and Asia the Great:

     After a small space the lights‥extinguish, and‥the Phasma having assumed a bodily shape or other false representation accompanies her.

References

• “phasm”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Hamps, Phams, Shamp