PHANTOM

I. noun Etymology: Middle English fantosme, fantome, from Anglo-French fantosme phantasm Date: 14th century 1. something (as a specter) apparent to sense but with no substantial existence ; apparition , something elusive or visionary ; will-o'-the-wisp , an object of continual dread or abhorrence ; bugbear , something existing in appearance only, a representation of something abstract, ideal, or incorporeal , ~like adverb or adjective II. adjective Date: 15th century of the nature of, suggesting, or being a ~ ; illusory , fictitious , dummy