AGHAST


Meaning of AGHAST in English

əˈgast, -aa(ə)st, -aist, -ȧst adjective

Etymology: alteration (probably influenced by Scots ghast, variant of English ghost ) of Middle English agast, from past participle of agasten to frighten, be frightened, from a- (perfective prefix) + gasten to frighten — more at abear , gast

1. : seized with fear or terror : frightened , terrified

with shuddering horror pale and eyes aghast — John Milton

2. : struck with amazement, bewilderment, disgust, or surprise : shocked

the trustees, aghast when he allowed pupils to study out-of-doors, demanded stricter discipline — E.W.Parks

— usually used predicatively

he was aghast

but sometimes prepositively

thousands of aghast Britons whose rage is concentrated on their government — Mollie Panter-Downes

Synonyms: see afraid

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.