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phantasmagoria

[ fan-taz-muh-gawr-ee-uh, -gohr- ]
/ fænˌtæz məˈgɔr i ə, -ˈgoʊr- /
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See synonyms for: phantasmagoria / phantasmagoric on Thesaurus.com

noun
a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
a changing scene made up of many elements.
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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Origin of phantasmagoria

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

OTHER WORDS FROM phantasmagoria

phan·tas·ma·go·ri·al, phan·tas·ma·gor·ic [fan-taz-muh-gawr-ik, -gor-], /fænˌtæz məˈgɔr ɪk, -ˈgɒr-/, phan·tas·ma·go·ri·an, adjectivephan·tas·ma·gor·ist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use phantasmagoria in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phantasmagoria

phantasmagoria

phantasmagory (fænˈtæzməɡərɪ)

/ (ˌfæntæzməˈɡɔːrɪə) /

noun
psychol a shifting medley of real or imagined figures, as in a dream
films a sequence of pictures made to vary in size rapidly while remaining in focus
rare a shifting scene composed of different elements

Derived forms of phantasmagoria

phantasmagoric (ˌfæntæzməˈɡɒrɪk) or phantasmagorical, adjectivephantasmagorically, adverb

Word Origin for phantasmagoria

C19: probably from French fantasmagorie production of phantasms, from phantasm + -agorie, perhaps from Greek ageirein to gather together
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

Medical definitions for phantasmagoria

phantasmagoria
[ făn-tăz′mə-gôrē-ə ]

n. pl. phan•tas•ma•go•ri•as
A fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as seen in dreams or fever.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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