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

The light you behold is an ignis fatuus.

From Guy Fawkes or The Gunpowder Treason by Ainsworth, William Harrison

How malignantly must this strange ignis fatuus, thought he, dance into the nightly conflict of all these clashing relations!

From Titan: A Romance Vol. II (of 2) by Jean Paul

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

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

We are beginning to believe Magdala to be a fata morgana, an ignis fatuus, which gets more and more distant the nearer we approach it.

From March to Magdala by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)