aghast

Meaning

Adjective

• Terrified; struck with amazement; showing signs of terror or horror.

Origin

• From Middle English agast, agasted, past participle of agasten, from Old English a- (compare with Gothic 𐌿𐍃-, German er-, originally meaning "out") + gæstan: compare Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 ("to terrify"); akin to Latin haerere ("to stick fast, cling"). See gaze, hesitate.