Phantasmagoria


[fan-taz-muh-gawr-ee-uh, -gohr-] /fænˌtæz məˈgɔr i ə, -ˈgoʊr-/

noun
1.
a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
2.
a changing scene made up of many elements.
3.
an optical illusion produced by a magic lantern or the like in which figures increase or diminish in size, pass into each other, dissolve, etc.
/ˌfæntæzməˈɡɔːrɪə/
noun
1.
(psychol) a shifting medley of real or imagined figures, as in a dream
2.
(films) a sequence of pictures made to vary in size rapidly while remaining in focus
3.
(rare) a shifting scene composed of different elements
n.

1802, name of a “magic lantern” exhibition brought to London in 1802 by Parisian showman Paul de Philipstal, the name an alteration of French phantasmagorie, said to have been coined 1801 by French dramatist Louis-Sébastien Mercier as though to mean “crowd of phantoms,” from Greek phantasma “image, phantom, apparition” (see phantasm) + second element probably a French form of Greek agora “assembly” (but this may have been chosen more for the dramatic sound than any literal sense). Transferred meaning “shifting scene of many elements” is attested from 1822. Related: Phantasmagorical.

phantasmagoria phan·tas·ma·go·ri·a (fān-tāz’mə-gôr’ē-ə) or phan·tas·ma·go·ry (fān-tāz’mə-gôr’ē)
n. phan·tas·ma·go·ri·as or phan·tas·ma·go·ries
A fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as seen in dreams or fever.

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    [fan-taz-muh-gawr-ik, -gor-] /fænˌtæz məˈgɔr ɪk, -ˈgɒr-/ adjective 1. having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination. 2. having the appearance of an optical illusion, especially one produced by a magic lantern. 3. changing or shifting, as a scene made up of many elements.

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    [fan-taz-muh-gawr-ik, -gor-] /fænˌtæz məˈgɔr ɪk, -ˈgɒr-/ adjective 1. having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination. 2. having the appearance of an optical illusion, especially one produced by a magic lantern. 3. changing or shifting, as a scene made up of many elements.

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    [fan-taz-muh-gawr-ik, -gor-] /fænˌtæz məˈgɔr ɪk, -ˈgɒr-/ adjective 1. having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination. 2. having the appearance of an optical illusion, especially one produced by a magic lantern. 3. changing or shifting, as a scene made up of many elements.

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    [fan-taz-muh-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee] /fænˈtæz məˌgɔr i, -ˌgoʊr i/ noun, plural phantasmagories. 1. .


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