Ghastly, a. [Compar. Ghastlier; superl. Ghastliest.]
Etymology: [OE. gastlich, gastli, fearful, causing fear, fr. gasten to terrify, AS. gæstan. Cf. Aghast, Gast, Gaze, Ghostly.]
1. Like a ghost in appearance; deathlike; pale; pallid; dismal. Each turned his face with a ghastly pang. Coleridge. His face was so ghastly that it could scarcely be recognized. Macaulay.
2. Horrible; shocking; dreadful; hideous. Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. Milton.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Ghastly, adv.
In a ghastly manner; hideously. Staring full ghastly like a strangled man. Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists ghastly only as an antonym, under beautiful.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given