A*gast" or A*ghast" (&?;), v. t.
To affright; to terrify. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
A*ghast" (&?;), v. t. See Agast,
v. t. [Obs.]
A*ghast" (&?;), a. & p. p. [OE. agast,
agasted, p. p. of agasten to terrify, fr. AS. pref.
ā- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning
out) + g&?;stan to terrify, torment: cf. Goth.
usgaisjan to terrify, primitively to fix, to root to the spot with
terror; akin to L. haerere to stick fast, cling. See Gaze,
Hesitate.] Terrified; struck with amazement; showing signs of
terror or horror.
Aghast he waked; and, starting from his bed,
Cold sweat in clammy drops his limbs o'erspread.
Dryden.
The commissioners read and stood aghast.
Macaulay.