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ectoplasm

ectoplasm

3 9.9
A substance that some people who say they speak to spirits claim appears from their body
  • noun
  • /ˈɛktəˌplæzəm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ectoplasma
  • During the séance, the medium produced a glowing substance known as ectoplasm that seemed to connect with the spirit world.
  • green ectoplasm
  • ghost's ectoplasm

Now on to kicking the veritable ectoplasm out of some ghosts.

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Examples

  • The ectoplasm appears to be carrying them toward Sun Wu Kung.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Kenny D Kenny D says that he has come into possession of some ectoplasm from Ghostbusters Frozen Empire.

  • Have you ever heard of ectoplasm?

  • Green ectoplasm again emanates from his fingers.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The ectoplasm obligingly returned and waved again.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Behind her a faint smudge described as ectoplasm suggests that she has only just materialised.

  • It is called ectoplasm.

  • The paranormal investigator documented the appearance of ectoplasm as evidence of the medium's abilities during the trance.

  • Witnesses reported seeing a thick, white mist, which they identified as ectoplasm, rising from the medium's body.

Surface Forms

ectoplasm singular
ectoplasms plural

Morphology

ectoplasm = plasm (semi-transparent) = ecto + plasm

Formed from 'ecto-' (outside) + 'plasm' (substance), but the paranormal séance meaning is specialized and not directly predictable by general learners.

Etymology

Ectoplasm comes from the Greek parts ecto- meaning 'outside' and plasma meaning 'something formed' or 'substance', and a helpful way to remember the spiritualist idea is to picture a strange 'substance' flowing out of a medium's body, which is why people called it ectoplasm.