All 4 Uses

apparition
in
The Overcoat, by Gogol
(Auto-generated)

But the most noteworthy point was, that from that day forward the apparition of the dead tchinovnik ceased to be seen.†
*

apparition = a ghostlike figure or its appearance
In fact, one watchman in Kolomna saw with his own eyes the apparition come from behind a house.†
But being rather weak of body, he dared not arrest him, but followed him in the dark, until, at length, the apparition looked round, paused, and inquired, "What do you want?" at the same time showing a fist such as is never seen on living men.†
But the apparition was much too tall, wore huge moustaches, and, directing its steps apparently towards the Obukhoff bridge, disappeared in the darkness of the night.†

Definitions:

(1) (apparition as in: a headless apparition)
a ghostlike figure or its appearance
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
More rarely, apparition can refer to any strange, other-worldly, thing or its appearance. Even more rarely, apparition can by a synonym for appearance. The Harry Potter series uses the word both ways.