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phantasmagory
Variant of phantasmagoria
phantasmagoria
definition
phan·tas·ma·go·ria (fan taz′mə gôr′ē ə)
noun
- an early type of magic-lantern show consisting of various optical illusions in which objects rapidly change size, blend into one another, etc.
- a rapidly changing series of things seen or imagined, as the figures or events of a dream
- 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
Also phantasmagory phan·tas′·ma·go′ry
Related Forms:
- phantasmagorial phan·tas′·ma·go′·rial adjective or phantasmagoric phan·tas′·ma·go′·ric or phantasmagorical phan·tas′·ma·go′·ri·cal
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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