[phan.tom] n [ME fantosme, fantome, fr. MF fantosme, modif. of L phantasma] (14c) 1 a: something (as a specter) apparent to sense but with no substantial existence: apparition b: something elusive or visionary: will-o'-the-wisp c: an object of continual dread or abhorrence: bugbear "the ~ of disease and want"
2: something existing in appearance only
3: a representation of something abstract, ideal, or incorporeal "she was a ~ of delight --William Wordsworth" -- phan.tom.like adv or adj
[2]phantom adj (15c) 1: of the nature of, suggesting, or being a phantom: illusory
2: fictitious, dummy "~ voters"