doppelganger
UK[ˈdɒp(ə)lˌɡaŋə]US[ˈdɑːp(ə)lˌɡæŋər]
n
A ghostly double or look-alike of a living person.
n
An apparition or double of a living person, often considered an omen of bad luck.
Morpheme Breakdown
doppel
ganger
doppel
double
ganger
goer
Etymology
The word 'doppelganger' is a direct loan from German, where it literally means "double-goer". It entered English in the mid-19th century, carrying with it the rich folklore of a spectral duplicate. The German 'Doppel' traces back to the Latin 'duplus' (double), while 'Gänger' comes from the verb 'gehen' (to go), related to the English word 'gang' in its original sense of "a going, a journey". The concept embodies the eerie logic of a tangible, walking copy of a person, an idea that evolved from ancient beliefs about wraiths or fetches into a modern metaphor for an uncanny duplicate or counterpart.
Analysis
Structure: doppel (double) + ganger (goer)
doppel: From German 'Doppel', meaning "double". Ultimately from Latin 'duplus' (double, twofold). Functions as the core semantic root.
ganger: From German 'Gänger', meaning "goer" or "walker", derived from 'gehen' (to go). Functions as an agent noun suffix, indicating one who goes or walks.
Examples
In the novel, the protagonist is haunted by his doppelganger, who appears at moments of crisis.
She was shocked to meet her doppelganger, a stranger who looked exactly like her.
The politician's ruthless advisor was often described as his evil doppelganger.