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Fata Morgana

American  
[fah-tah mawr-gah-nah] / ˈfɑ tɑ mɔrˈgɑ nɑ /

noun

  1. Meteorology. a mirage consisting of multiple images, as of cliffs and buildings, that are distorted and magnified to resemble elaborate castles, often seen near the Straits of Messina.


Fata Morgana British  
/ ˈfɑːtə mɔːˈɡɑːnə, ˈfaːta mɔrˈɡaːna /

noun

  1. a mirage, esp one in the Strait of Messina attributed to the sorcery of Morgan le Fay

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Fata Morgana

1810–20; < Italian, translation of Morgan le Fay, associated in literature with magical castles


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Carlos Iturralde's "Fata Morgana" was a sonic mirage, with a trio of winds offstage mysteriously altering the sounds of violin, cello and bass on stage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2015

On Thursday, he'll host a 7 p.m. screening of Werner Herzog's "Fata Morgana," a film that has inspired Glawogger's work.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2012

Fata Morgana is a linguistic tour de force set in the aftermath of 9/11 and is both celebrated and controversial.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 18, 2011

Tentative plans also indicate the production of The Goat Song, a drama of Pan-worship, by Franz Werfel; Fata Morgana, by Ernst Vajda; and a second American play.

From Time Magazine Archive

The swans shook their heads, for what she beheld were the beautiful ever-changing cloud palaces of the "Fata Morgana," into which no mortal can enter.

From Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen

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