Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Aghast
A-gast′
orA-ghast′
Verb.
T.
To affright; to terrify.
[Obs.]
Chaucer. Spenser.
A-ghast′
,Adj.
& p.
p.
[OE.
agast
, agasted
, p. p. of agasten
to terrify, fr. AS. pref. ā-
(cf. Goth. us-
, G. er-
, orig. meaning out
) + g[GREEK]stan
to terrify, torment: cf. Goth. usgaisjan
to terrify, primitively to fix, to root to the spot with terror; akin to L. haerere
to stick fast, cling. See Gaze
, Hesitate
.] Terrified; struck with amazement; showing signs of terror or horror.
Aghast
he waked; and, starting from his bed,Cold sweat in clammy drops his limbs o’erspread.
Dryden.
The commissioners read and stood
aghast
. Macaulay.