haunt

The word 'haunt' has a journey from the concept of home and habitual presence to one of ghostly visitation. It originates from a Germanic root, via Old French, related to the Old Norse word for "home." Its original sense in English was simply "to frequent, to visit often," implying a familiar, customary presence in a place. Over time, this idea of a persistent, recurring presence was applied metaphorically, first to memories or feelings that persistently return to the mind, and then most famously to the supposed recurring presence of a spirit or ghost in a specific location. Thus, the logic evolved from a neutral or positive sense of habitual dwelling to a more chilling, supernatural, or psychologically unsettling one.

The word is a simplex form. It entered Middle English from Old French hanter, meaning "to frequent, be familiar with," which is likely of Germanic origin, related to Old Norse heimta "to bring home," from heimr "home." Its functional role is as a complete verb root.