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phantasmagoria

[ fan-taz-muh-gawr-ee-uh, -gohr- ]
/ fænˌtæz məˈgɔr i ə, -ˈgoʊr- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR phantasmagoria

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

Words nearby phantasmagoria

phanotron, phantasia, phantasize, phantasm, phantasma, phantasmagoria, phantasmagoric, phantasmagory, phantasmal, phantasy, phantom
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to phantasmagoria

phantom, aberration, apparition, trip, fantasy, mirage, phantasm, illusion, vision, wraith, head trip, phantasmagory

Example sentences from the Web for phantasmagoria

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-gôr′ē-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.