Word of the Day: Spooky

spooky

spook-y / spo͞o-kē

adjective

1. causing one to think of ghosts or phantoms; ghostly

In Victorian Britain, spooky winter’s tales were part of the Christmas season, often told after dinner, over port or coffee.

Michael Dirda, 1948 –

2. scary

I’ve made up stuff that’s turned out to be real, that’s the spooky part.

Tom Clancy, 1947 – 2013

3. nervous and jumpy; easily scared

I was a spooky kid; that was just my nature.

Elizabeth Marvel, 1969 –

etymology

An English adjective formed from the noun “spook,” which is a Dutch word meaning “ghost,” “spirit,” or “apparition.”

Thank you to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.