phantasmagoria Hear it!

phantasmagoria Definition

phan·tas·ma·go·ria (fan taz′mə gôr′ē 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

  1. ‹ phantasm
  2. ‹ Phanerozoic
  3. ‹ phanerophyte
  4. ‹ phanerogam
  5. ‹ -phane
  6. ‹ phallus
  7. ‹ phallocentric
  8. ‹ phallicism
  9. ‹ phallic
  10. ‹ phalarope
  1. phantasmal ›
  2. phantasy ›
  3. phantom ›
  4. phantom circuit ›
  5. phantom stock plan ›
  6. phar ›
  7. Pharaoh ›
  8. pharaoh ant ›
  9. pharaoh hound ›
  10. Pharisaic ›