haunt´er

haunt «hnt, hahnt; for n. 4 also hant», verb, noun.

–v.t.

1. to go to often; visit frequently: »

I haunt the pine-dark solitudes (James Russell Lowell).

2. Figurative. to be often with; come often to: »

Memories of his youth haunted the old man.

3. to frequent the company of: »

to haunt the rich.

4. to visit frequently or habitually, with manifestations of influence and presence: »

People say ghosts haunt that old house.

–v.i.

1. to stay or remain usually (in a place): »

I have charged thee not to haunt abut my doors (Shakespeare).

2. to associate, as with a person.

–n.

1. Often, haunts. a place visited often: »

The swimming pool was the children's favorite haunt on summer days. The bygone haunt of ancient revelry (Walter de la Mare).

2. the usual feeding place of deer, game, or wild fowl.

3. a place frequented by criminals.

4. Dialect. a ghost.

5. Archaic. a habit, custom, or usage; habitual practice: »

Of clothmaking she had such an haunt, She passed them of Ypres and of Gaunt (Chaucer).

╂[< Old French hanter, perhaps < a Germanic word]

–haunt´er, noun.

–haunt´ing|ly, adverb.