n. [ L., fr. apparere. See Appear. ] 1. Formerly, an officer who attended magistrates and judges to execute their orders. [ 1913 Webster ]

Before any of his apparitors could execute the sentence, he was himself summoned away by a sterner apparitor to the other world. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A messenger or officer who serves the process of an ecclesiastical court. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. apparition, L. apparitio, fr. apparere. See Appear. ] 1. The act of becoming visible; appearance; visibility. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sudden apparition of the Spaniards. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

The apparition of Lawyer Clippurse occasioned much speculation in that portion of the world. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The thing appearing; a visible object; a form. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which apparition, it seems, was you. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An unexpected, wonderful, or preternatural appearance; a ghost; a specter; a phantom. “The heavenly bands . . . a glorious apparition.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Astron.) The first appearance of a star or other luminary after having been invisible or obscured; -- opposed to occultation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Circle of perpetual apparition. See under Circle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to an apparition or to apparitions; spectral. “An apparitional soul.” Tylor. [ 1913 Webster ]