View synonyms for Fata Morgana

Fata Morgana

[ Italian fah-tah mawr-gah-nah ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Meteorology. a mirage consisting of multiple images, as of cliffs and buildings, that are distorted and magnified to resemble elaborate castles, often seen near the Straits of Messina.

Fata Morgana

/ ˈfɑːtə mɔːˈɡɑːnə; ˈfaːta mɔrˈɡaːna /

a mirage, esp one in the Strait of Messina attributed to the sorcery of Morgan le Fay

1810–20; < Italian, translation of Morgan le Fay, associated in literature with magical castles

C19: from Italian: Morgan le Fay

But Nature, as if to take away the reproach of permitting such a vast blotch on her fair face, kindly threw in Fata Morgana.

This "Fata Morgana" was not merely interesting in itself, but also gave reason to indulge in the hope of a favourable wind.

If there is any truth at all in the legend, the island must be ascribed to the Fata Morgana.

In the early morning; it was quite calm, but gray, and we witnessed a kind of Fata Morgana.

From time to time the Fata Morgana exhibits her juggleries, but we are accustomed to it now, and nobody is deceived thereby.

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