noun
wraith
rayth
Wraith (noun) means a ghost or ghostly figure, especially one believed to appear around the time of a person's death. Example: “Locals swore they saw the wraith of the drowned sailor on foggy nights.”
noun
1
A ghost or ghostly figure, especially one believed to appear around the time of a person's death.
"We might indeed have been the wraiths of the departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound or sign we made in passing."
— , Under the Moons of Mars (1912)
"Locals swore they saw the wraith of the drowned sailor on foggy nights."
"Like wraiths with the impediments of bodies they stumbled in the direction of Salthill faces."
— Joyce Carol Oates, Middle Age: A Romance (2001)
How to use wraith
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA ghostly apparition, especially one linked to a death.
Common pairings
a ghostly wraith
wraith-like
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Word forms
- Plural
- wraiths
Fill the gap
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Locals swore they saw the _____ of the drowned sailor on foggy nights.
Etymology
First recorded in Scots in the early 1500s; its origin is uncertain, though some link it to "wrath" or "writhe" through a shared idea of something twisted or turned.
Class of 1500
wraith joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Related words
Rhymes for wraith
See all rhymes for wraith →Frequently asked questions
What does “wraith” mean?
The word “wraith” means a ghost or ghostly figure, especially one believed to appear around the time of a person's death. In plain terms, a ghostly apparition, especially one linked to a death.
How do you pronounce “wraith”?
“Wraith” is pronounced rayth (/ɹeɪθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “wraith” in a sentence?
Here is “wraith” used in a sentence: “Locals swore they saw the wraith of the drowned sailor on foggy nights.”
What part of speech is “wraith”?
“Wraith” is a noun.
Where does the word “wraith” come from?
The word “wraith” dates back to around 1500. First recorded in Scots in the early 1500s; its origin is uncertain, though some link it to "wrath" or "writhe" through a shared idea of something twisted or turned.
