ghastly

== English == === Etymology === From a conflation of gastly, from Middle English gastly, from gasten (from Old English gǣstan (“to torment, frighten”)) + -ly, and ghostly (which was also spelt gastlich in Middle English). Equivalent to ghast/gast +‎ -ly. Spelling with gh developed in the 16th century due to the conflation. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɡɑːs(t).li/ (Northern England, Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈɡas(t).li/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈɡæs(t).li/ Rhymes: -ɑːstli (RP), -æstli (US, Northern England, Scotland) === Adjective === ghastly (comparative ghastlier, superlative ghastliest) Like a ghost in appearance; death-like; pale; pallid; dismal. Horrifyingly shocking. Extremely bad. ==== Synonyms ==== (sickly pale): See also Thesaurus:pallid (horrifyingly shocking): lurid, grisly, gruesome, ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adverb === ghastly (comparative more ghastly or ghastlier, superlative most ghastly or ghastliest) In a ghastly manner. Synonyms: ghastily, ghastlily