contraction
noun
verb
Freq #170814
Meanings
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1
contraction
an eye-dialect spelling of hain’t or ain’t, meaning has not, have not, am not, is not, or are not
He hain’t been seen in these parts for a year.
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2
noun
Southern US and Appalachian dialect: a ghost or supernatural apparition
The children dared one another to enter the house said to contain a haint.
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3
verb
a dialect spelling of haunt
The old story says his spirit will haint the crossroads.
Thesaurus
Etymology
A regional pronunciation spelling with two related-looking but distinct uses: hain’t or ain’t as a negative contraction, and a Southern US/Appalachian alteration of haunt for a ghost or the act of haunting.