aghast: [13] Aghast was originally the past participle of a verb, agasten ‘frighten’, which in turn was based on the Old English verb gǣstan ‘torment’. The spelling with gh did not finally become established until the 18th century, and in fact aghast was the last in a series of etymologically related words in the general semantic area of ‘fear’ and ‘horror’ to undergo this transformation. It seems to have acquired its gh by association with ghastly, which in turn got it from ghost (probably under the ultimate influence of Flemish gheest).
aghast (adj.)
c. 1300, agast, "terrified," past participle of Middle English agasten "to frighten" (c. 1200), from a- intensive prefix + Old English gæstan "to terrify," from gæst "spirit, ghost" (see ghost). The -gh- spelling appeared early 15c. in Scottish and is possibly a Flemish influence, or after ghost, etc. It became general after 1700.
雙語例句
1. Tania stared at him aghast, unable to speak.
塔妮婭吃驚地看著他，說不出話來。
來自柯林斯例句
2. His colleagues were aghast at the sackings.
他的同事們對於這些解雇感到很吃驚。
來自柯林斯例句
3. She watched aghast as his life flowed away.
看著他的生命逐漸消逝，她驚駭萬分。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Erica looked at him aghast.
埃麗卡驚恐地望著他。
來自《權威詞典》
5. She was aghast at the extent of the damage to her car.