ignis fatuus

American  

[ig-nis fach-oo-uhs] / ˈɪg nɪs ˈfætʃ u əs /

noun

ignes fatui plural

1. Also called friar's lantern, will-o'-the-wisp.  a flitting phosphorescent light seen at night, chiefly over marshy ground, and believed to be due to spontaneous combustion of gas from decomposed organic matter.

2. something deluding or misleading.

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ignis fatuus British  

/ ˈɪɡnɪs ˈfætjʊəs /

noun

1. another name for will-o'-the-wisp

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• ignes fatui
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ignis fatuus

1555–65; < Medieval Latin: literally, foolish fire

Example Sentences

Now, let the reader examine and study these definitions of Liberty by Paley, Montesquieu and Blackstone, and he will see that they are in pursuit of an ignis fatuus that eludes their grasp.

From Cannibals all! or, Slaves without masters by Fitzhugh, George

It flashed through his mind that he had wasted two months pursuing an ignis fatuus, only to have nothing but bitterness at the end, when it might have been ——!

From Six Prize Hawaiian Stories of the Kilohana Art League by Armstrong, W. N.

XII.298.We are concerned not with names but with things, so that Dr. Hort may give his ignis fatuus what appellation he likes, only why he calls it Syrian it is hard to determine.

From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. II. by Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose

—The ignis fatuus, or Will o' the Wisp.

From Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England by Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O. (James Orchard)

Blinded by his ill-starred idolatry, he had abandoned even the dignity of concealing it; and followed his ignis fatuus about—constantly forcing his company upon her in a manner that rendered him ridiculous.

From The Finger of Fate A Romance by Reid, Mayne