specter vs shadow

specter and shadow both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
specter	Yes	No	No	No
shadow	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, shadow is a hypernym of specter; that is, shadow is a word with a broader meaning than specter:

Other hypernyms of specter include apparition, fantasm, phantasm, phantasma, phantom.

specter (noun)	shadow (noun)
a mental representation of some haunting experience	refuge from danger or observation
a ghostly appearing figure	something existing in perception only
	an indication that something has been present
	a premonition of something adverse
	an unilluminated area
	a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
	an inseparable companion
	a dominating and pervasive presence
	shade within clear boundaries

specter (verb)	shadow (verb)
	follow, usually without the person's knowledge
	make appear small by comparison
	cast a shadow over