Dictionary

ghostdom en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English *gostdom, *gastdom, from Old English gāstdōm (“spirituality”), equivalent to ghost + -dom.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The condition, state, or realm of ghosts or spirits; spirituality; spiritualism.
   • Of course non-Christians adopt another method, and they often get the waifs and strays of ghostdom to bother and annoy. 1877, The spiritual magazine:
   • But what we're seeing is, even the ghostdoms that are coming in and joining the central government, or even Fahim Khan, who was defense minister and first vice president, they are not giving up their militias, … 2005, An Army at War: Change in the Midst of Conflict
   • He has been as active as the next man since his arrival in ghostdom. 1996, Health Research, Strange Visitors: A Clairvoyant:
   • If so, he would be one of the most obvious candidates for ghostdom in the Lowcountry. 2007, Geordie Buxton, Haunted Plantations:
   • In this ecstatic surge of floral imagery she relinquishes Bloom's presence for his name, and thus bequeaths him with his ghostdom and his passport to eternity. 2004, Derek Attridge, James Joyce's Ulysses: A Casebook:
   • “You mean a different kind of ghostdom than you're living now?” “It will be no ghostdom or afterlife at all.” He tried not to shudder. 2008, Allie MacKay, Tall, Dark and Kilted:
   • Bonnie sighed. “You've been very challenging, Mama. You still won't admit I'm anything but a dream.” “Because your so-called ghostly powers seem to be rather limited. Ghostdom? What kind of word is that? 2003, Iris Johansen, Body of Lies:
   • I have seized the key that unlocks the mystic realms of ghostdom, and I will hold it as a flaming torch over that dark domain till its shadows have fled forever from the minds of men. 1853, S. B. Brittan, B. W. Richmond, A Discussion of the facts and philosophy of ancient and modern spiritualism:

Forms

Relateds

ghosthood