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phantasmagoria Definition

phan·tas·ma·go·ria (fan taz′mə gôrē ə)

noun

  1. an early type of magic-lantern show consisting of various optical illusions in which objects rapidly change size, blend into one another, etc.
  2. a rapidly changing series of things seen or imagined, as the figures or events of a dream
  3. any rapidly changing scene

Etymology: Fr fantasmagorie < Gr phantasma, phantasm + agoreuein, to speak in public < ageirein, to assemble (see gregarious): prob. infl. by Fr allegorie, allegory

phantasmagoria Related Forms

phan·tas′·ma·go·rial adjective or phan·tas′·ma·go·ric or phan·tas′·ma·go·ri·cal

phantasmagoria Usage Examples

Converse of object

present: Arguably, Des Pres ' Survivor presents a phantasmagoria of pain and suffering.

Browse dictionary entries near phantasmagoria

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