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poltergeist

From Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained
A mysterious invisible force asserted to cause a number of phenomena, most commonly noises (bangs, thuds and rappings) and object movements (from the hurling of smaller items, to the lifting and upsetting of large pieces of furniture). The word ‘poltergeist’ comes from the German poltern , to make a racket, and Geist , ghost. However, alleged poltergeist activity includes a broad spectrum of phenomena, not necessarily covered by the literal translation of the word, ‘noisy spirit’. Poltergeist-related phenomena can involve objects seeming to move with no cause, including heavy items such as furniture as well as smaller items; bangs, knocking and rapping noises; thrown objects, which sometimes follow an unusual trajectory, or seem to be aimed at a specific person; rains of small objects such as stones or coins, sometimes falling inside a house or building; foul smells; spontaneous fires, sometimes breaking out on walls or ceilings; electrical disturbances, including the switching on and…
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Full text Article POLTERGEIST

From The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters
A poltergeist is a particular type of ghost supposedly responsible for unexplained physical disturbances such as loud noises and the movement of objects. The term, from the German poltern (“to make noise”) and geist (“spirit”) first appeared in the writings of the sixteenth-century German religious…
| 1,666 words
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Full text Article poltergeist

From Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained
A mysterious invisible force asserted to cause a number of phenomena, most commonly noises (bangs, thuds and rappings) and object movements (from the hurling of smaller items, to the lifting and upsetting of large pieces of furniture). The word ‘poltergeist’ comes from the German poltern , to make a…
| 627 words
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Full text Article Rosenheim poltergeist

From Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained
A well-attested German poltergeist case from 1967. In November 1967 a law office in the Bavarian town of Rosenheim, Germany, was the scene of an outbreak of poltergeist disturbances. Light bulbs on hanging fittings would swing wildly before exploding, fluorescent lights went out repeatedly for no…
| 387 words
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Full text Article Humpty Doo poltergeist

From Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained
A remarkable stone-throwing poltergeist case from Australia. What became known as the ‘Humpty Doo poltergeist’ afflicted a house at Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory of Australia early in 1998. Occupied by two adult couples, a friend and a child, the house apparently suffered repeated bombardment…
| 383 words
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Full text Article The Enfield Poltergeist

From Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained
What is probably the best-known British poltergeist event took place in a semi-detached council house in Enfield, North London, in 1977 and 1978. Its fame stems mostly from the fact that, as the following bizarre events unfolded, they were covered in great detail by the media. The occupants of the…
| 752 words
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Full text Article poltergeist

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Unexplained phenomenon that invisibly moves objects or hurls them about, starts fires, or causes other mischief. Identical phenomena attributed to poltergeists have been reported from all parts of the world and throughout all ages. Poltergeist disturbances include noises of every description, …
| 106 words
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Full text Article Epworth Parsonage poltergeist

From Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained
A well-attested 18th-century poltergeist which afflicted the family of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. The mysterious noises at Epworth Parsonage, Lincolnshire, the home of the Wesley family, occurred during December 1716 and January 1717. The events were recorded in family letters and in the…
| 256 words
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Poltergeists are known for their penchant for...
Poltergeists are often mistaken for demons. The word is German for “noisy ghost” and describes a specific type of activity that may mimic some of the characteristics of a demon in the house, but without the demon. Poltergeist activity usually focuses on objects that move, levitate, break things, …
| 746 words , 2 images
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Full text Article poltergeist

From The Macquarie Dictionary
| 27 words
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Full text Article poltergeist

From Good Word Guide
| 29 words
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