ignis fatuus

American  

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

noun

plural

ignes fatui

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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Etymology

Origin of ignis fatuus

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

Example Sentences

This misconception of their character would have led him wrong as often as the ignis fatuus.

From Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th Regiment by Shipp, John

Never did a geographical entity seem so to play the ignis fatuus with the world as did the River.

From The Columbia River Its History, Its Myths, Its Scenery, Its Commerce by Lyman, William Denison

"If we pursue the ignis fatuus of secular education in a pagan land, destitute of other light," quoting Sir Herbert again, "then we English will lose India without those Indians gaining any future."

From Religion and the War by Various

He paused, leaning on the yoke, his dreary eyes still on the ignis fatuus of the woods.

From The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains by Murfree, Mary Noailles

Are we following an ignis fatuus in setting it up as the panacea for the defects of our communities?

From Problems in Greek history by Mahaffy, John Pentland