phantasmagoria

American  

[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.

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phantasmagoria British  

/ ˌfæntæzməˈɡɒrɪk, ˌfæntæzməˈɡɔːrɪə, fænˈtæzməɡərɪ /

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

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Other Word Forms

• phantasmagorial
  adjective
• phantasmagorian
  adjective
• phantasmagoric
  adjective
• phantasmagorically
  adverb
• phantasmagorist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of phantasmagoria

1795–1805; < French fantasmagorie, compound based on fantasme phantasm; second element perhaps representing Greek agorá assembly, gathering; see -ia

Explanation

Dream-like visions can be called a phantasmagoria. If you've ever had a very high fever, you might have experienced seeing a phantasmagoria of strange images in your half-awake, feverish state. The strange, hallucinatory images you might see in a dream are a phantasmagoria. Even when you're awake, if you see odd or fantastic things — either real or imagined — they're a phantasmagoria. The word was invented by a French dramatist in 1801, who used the Greek word for "image," phantasma to make the French word phantasmagorie. The word referred to a "magic lantern" show, which in the 1800s was a popular display of projected images.

Example Sentences

In 1995, I would see John and his revamped Records play around town: at places such as Phantasmagoria in Wheaton and Iota in Arlington.

From Washington Post • Oct. 13, 2018

The Phantasmagoria came to London in 1801, after a decade or two of development in Germany and France.

From New York Times • Nov. 3, 2016

Shortly after its arrival, the success of the Phantasmagoria and a handful of similar shows set off a kind of entertainment version of the Cambrian explosion.

From New York Times • Nov. 3, 2016

Winnie Stevenson will present a magic lantern show called Phantasmagoria.

From The Guardian • May 12, 2010

Nearly the whole of this volume is a reprint of the serious portion of Phantasmagoria and other Poems, which was first published in 1869 and has long been out of print.

From Three Sunsets and Other Poems by Carroll, Lewis