Ghoul Studies' Vocab
written by Liv Fletcher
All the vocab words from Ghoul Studies. I will add each new lesson as I read it.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
2
Reads
1,891
Lesson 1
Chapter 1
Being: Any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws.
Beast: Any creature that cannot understand the laws of the magical community and therefore, is not able to assume the responsibility in shaping those laws.
Spirit: A sentient magical creature that has sufficient knowledge to understand magical law but bears no responsibility to shape it. Spirits also are capable of experiencing life and death, unlike non-beings.
Humanoid-being: This is not an official classification used by the Ministry of Magic to catalog magical creatures, but is very important in this course. It means something or someone with a form similar to humans. humanoid-beings can be classified as "beings" (ex: vampires), "beasts" (ex. Ghouls) or "spirits" (ex. ghosts) by the Ministry. So while these creatures may appear human, as they have a humanoid form, they are not classified as humans and not all of these creatures can be considered beings.
Living-dead: Represents all living-beings (the opposite of non-beings) that have living body systems, although they do not have the same physiological needs of a living human being. The living-dead were once human beings whose bodies were transformed into another living system. Colloquially, we may say that a sort of "death" occurred, since living-dead theoretically died in relation to their human body.
Non-Being: Though not a classification used by the Ministry of Magic to catalog magical creatures, this concept is used to define some creatures who belong to either the beast or spirit categories. When we talk about Non-beings we are mostly referring to a non-human spiritous apparition. Non-beings are amortal and are created from human emotions which dictates whether they will survive or not. Some possess the ability to fly without needing any physical support/aid- what we call unsupported flight (ex. Boggarts, poltergeists, Dementors, and Lethifolds).
Immortality: The condition of those who- being alive and living beings - possess the faculty of not dying.
Amortality: The condition of never having died and being unable to die - mostly because they were never actually alive. Amortal creatures cannot be seen by Muggles, but have been sensed by Muggles in the past.
Spirituous Apparition: This is quite easy because it is another expression to name “non-being”. Curious to note that Lyall Lupin (father of Remus J. Lupin, professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts 1993-1994) was a world-renowned authority on non-human spirituous apparitions.
Spectre: Usually, this term is used to refer to both non-human spirituous apparitions or ghosts. But it has a particularity, we can only use the term “spectre” when the features of the spirit aren’t defined or recognizable.
Phantom: Another easy one, you can refer to ghosts, by calling them “ghosts” or “phantoms,” However, it is usual to see the word “phantom” associated with legendary ghosts, which indicates a certain higher rank in terms of Afterlife.
Paranormal: Paranormal is often used to relate to events or phenomena that go beyond the normal scope of magi-scientific understanding. For example, the magic present in love or death is a paranormal phenomenon, for which, wizards do not yet know the answers entirely.
Supernatural: Supernatural is the word we use to relate to Afterlife or non-being existence; or when we want to characterize extraordinary capacities that go beyond the wizarding earthly world. It is often used to agglomerate in one single word, creatures such as ghosts, Ghouls, mummies, poltergeists, Dementors, goblins, zombies, and many others. In sum, supernatural covers ghoul, spirits, eerie and non-beings creatures, often related to the occult.
Beast: Any creature that cannot understand the laws of the magical community and therefore, is not able to assume the responsibility in shaping those laws.
Spirit: A sentient magical creature that has sufficient knowledge to understand magical law but bears no responsibility to shape it. Spirits also are capable of experiencing life and death, unlike non-beings.
Humanoid-being: This is not an official classification used by the Ministry of Magic to catalog magical creatures, but is very important in this course. It means something or someone with a form similar to humans. humanoid-beings can be classified as "beings" (ex: vampires), "beasts" (ex. Ghouls) or "spirits" (ex. ghosts) by the Ministry. So while these creatures may appear human, as they have a humanoid form, they are not classified as humans and not all of these creatures can be considered beings.
Living-dead: Represents all living-beings (the opposite of non-beings) that have living body systems, although they do not have the same physiological needs of a living human being. The living-dead were once human beings whose bodies were transformed into another living system. Colloquially, we may say that a sort of "death" occurred, since living-dead theoretically died in relation to their human body.
Non-Being: Though not a classification used by the Ministry of Magic to catalog magical creatures, this concept is used to define some creatures who belong to either the beast or spirit categories. When we talk about Non-beings we are mostly referring to a non-human spiritous apparition. Non-beings are amortal and are created from human emotions which dictates whether they will survive or not. Some possess the ability to fly without needing any physical support/aid- what we call unsupported flight (ex. Boggarts, poltergeists, Dementors, and Lethifolds).
Immortality: The condition of those who- being alive and living beings - possess the faculty of not dying.
Amortality: The condition of never having died and being unable to die - mostly because they were never actually alive. Amortal creatures cannot be seen by Muggles, but have been sensed by Muggles in the past.
Spirituous Apparition: This is quite easy because it is another expression to name “non-being”. Curious to note that Lyall Lupin (father of Remus J. Lupin, professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts 1993-1994) was a world-renowned authority on non-human spirituous apparitions.
Spectre: Usually, this term is used to refer to both non-human spirituous apparitions or ghosts. But it has a particularity, we can only use the term “spectre” when the features of the spirit aren’t defined or recognizable.
Phantom: Another easy one, you can refer to ghosts, by calling them “ghosts” or “phantoms,” However, it is usual to see the word “phantom” associated with legendary ghosts, which indicates a certain higher rank in terms of Afterlife.
Paranormal: Paranormal is often used to relate to events or phenomena that go beyond the normal scope of magi-scientific understanding. For example, the magic present in love or death is a paranormal phenomenon, for which, wizards do not yet know the answers entirely.
Supernatural: Supernatural is the word we use to relate to Afterlife or non-being existence; or when we want to characterize extraordinary capacities that go beyond the wizarding earthly world. It is often used to agglomerate in one single word, creatures such as ghosts, Ghouls, mummies, poltergeists, Dementors, goblins, zombies, and many others. In sum, supernatural covers ghoul, spirits, eerie and non-beings creatures, often related to the occult.
