discorporate

9.9

A being that has no physical body like a ghost

adjective
/dɪsˈkɔːr.pə.reɪt/

Literature

: desencarnado

Myths often describe ghosts as discorporate beings invisible to the living.

Examples

In the novel, the alien took on a discorporate form to travel through walls.
The discorporate spirit wandered through the ancient ruins.
Some people believe that discorporate entities can influence the physical world.
Many cultures believe in discorporate beings that exist beyond our physical realm.
In many cultures, myths describe ghosts as discorporate beings that exist beyond the physical world.
The concept of discorporate entities is often explored in literature and folklore.
Some believe that a discorporate spirit can interact with the living without having a physical form.

Synonyms

disembodied

vsdiscorporate

15 8.0

Seeming to exist without a body, like a voice or spirit

means simply having no material body, not separation from one

immaterial

vsdiscorporate

4 7.4

Not physical and cannot be touched

highlights absence of material body rather than general nonphysical quality

incorporeal

vsdiscorporate

2 9.9

Not having a physical body or shape that you can touch

states absence of material body without stressing intangibility

noncorporeal

vsdiscorporate

1 9.8

Without a physical body or shape

emphasizes lack of embodiment rather than physical form only

bodiless

vsdiscorporate

1 8.1

Not having a physical form, like a spirit or ghost

applies to lack of incarnation rather than only physical absence

bodyless

vsdiscorporate

1 8.2

Not having any physical shape you can touch, like a voice or shadow

means lacking material body in a wider, metaphysical way

nonmaterial

vsdiscorporate

1 7.7

Has no physical form and is about ideas or feelings

focuses on being without a material body rather than only lacking matter

discarnate

vsdiscorporate

Literature

9.9

Not having a physical body and appearing like a spirit

has identical meaning but uses a different word form

unbodied

vsdiscorporate

Archaic

9.9

Not having a physical form like a ghost or spirit

focuses on being without incarnation rather than just immaterial

unembodied

vsdiscorporate

9.9

Not having a physical body, like a ghost

stresses nonincarnation rather than temporary separation from a body

Surface Forms

discorporate positive

Morphology

discorporate = corporate (opaque) = dis + corpor + ate

Although historically analyzable as dis- + corporate, modern 'corporate' is usually understood as 'relating to a company' rather than 'bodily', so learners will not reliably derive 'bodiless' from the parts.

Etymology

The word discorporate comes from dis- ('not' or 'apart') and corpus ('body'), so it means 'without a body' and is used for beings like ghosts that have no physical form.