haunt

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place

   I haunt the used bookstores in the hope of finding rare editions.

2. 2
   verb

   To inhabit or to visit frequently (most often used in reference to ghosts).

   A couple of ghosts haunt the old, burnt-down house.

3. 3
   verb

   To make uneasy, restless.

   The memory of his past failures haunted him.

4. 4
   verb

   To stalk; to follow.

   The policeman haunted him, following him everywhere.

5. 5
   verb

   To live habitually; to stay, to remain.

   Ieſus therfore walked no more openly amõge the iewes : butt went his waye thence vnto a countre ny to a wildernes into a cite called effraym / and there haunted with his diſciples.

6. 6
   verb

   To accustom; habituate; make accustomed to.

   […]haunte thi silf to pite [or pitee].

7. 7
   verb

   To practise; to devote oneself to.

   Leave honest pleasure, and haunt no good pastime.

8. 8
   verb

   To persist in staying or visiting.

   I haue charg’d thee not to haunt about my doores:[…]

Etymology

From Middle English haunten (“to reside, inhabit, use, employ”), from Old French hanter (“to inhabit, frequent, resort to”), from Old Northern French hanter (“to go back home, frequent”), from Old Norse heimta (“to bring home, fetch”) or/and from Old English hāmettan (“to bring home; house; cohabit with”); both from Proto-Germanic *haimatjaną (“to house, bring home”), from Proto-Germanic *haimaz (“village, home”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóymos (“village”). Cognate with Old English hǣman (“to cohabit, lie with, marry”); related to Old English hām (“home, village”), Old French hantin (“a stay…