phantasmagoria

[ fan-taz-muh-gawr-ee-uh, -gohr- ]

noun

1. a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
2. a changing scene made up of many elements.
3. 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.

phantasmagoria

/ ˌfæntæzməˈɡɔːrɪə; fænˈtæzməɡərɪ; ˌfæntæzməˈɡɒrɪk /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˌphantasmaˈgorically, adverb
• phantasmagoric, adjective

Other Words From

• phan·tasma·gori·al phan·tas·ma·gor·ic [fan-taz-m, uh, -, gawr, -ik, -, gor, -], phan·tasma·gori·an adjective
• phan·tasma·gorist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantasmagoria¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantasmagoria¹

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

Example Sentences

Not only does Marlantes nail down the sensory phantasmagoria and fear of combat, but also the elation.

From The Daily Beast

Swiftly, now, reality was asserting itself and banishing the phantasmagoria conjured up by chandu.

From Project Gutenberg

Savage philosophy mingles them together in one phantasmagoria of grotesquery and horror.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the hour when Byron's brain becomes thronged with a glowing phantasmagoria of ideas that cry aloud for visible expression.

From Project Gutenberg

The old scenes passed through her mind like the changing picture in a phantasmagoria.

From Project Gutenberg

The phantasmagoria of moving forms and faces went past and past, as he thought, altogether insignificant, meaning nothing.

From Project Gutenberg