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- DictionaryIg·nis fat·u·us/ˌiɡnəs ˈfaCHo͞oəs/
noun
- 1. a will-o'-the-wisp.
A glowing, mysterious light that you see at night in a swamp or marsh is an ignis fatuus. An ignis fatuus is caused by a chemical reaction, but it looks ghostly. The combination of methane gas and decaying plants that's found in bogs and swamps can result in a glow or pale fire that's visible at dusk or in the dark.
Feb 4, 2024 · Noun [ edit] ignis fatuus (plural ignes fatui) ( folklore) A will o' the wisp . ( figuratively) A delusion, a false hope. Translations [ edit] will o' the wisp — see will o' the wisp. ± false hope. Categories: English terms borrowed from New Latin. English terms derived from New Latin. English terms with IPA pronunciation. English lemmas.
noun, plural ig·nes fat·u·i [ig-neez fach-oo-ahy]. 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. something deluding or misleading. Recommended videos. Powered by AnyClip.
What does the noun ignis fatuus mean? There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun ignis fatuus . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
Recorded in English from the mid 16th century, the phrase is modern Latin, literally ‘foolish fire’ (because of its erratic movement). From: ignis fatuus in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ». Subjects: Science and technology — Earth Sciences and Geography.
noun. A light seen at night moving over swamps or marshy places, believed to be caused by the combustion of gases arising from decaying organic matter. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. Something that misleads or deludes; an illusion. American Heritage. A deceptive hope, goal, or influence; delusion. Webster's New World.
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May 17, 2018 · Ignis Fatuus A wavering luminous appearance frequently observed in meadows and marshy places, around which many popular superstitions cluster. Its folknames, Will o' the Wisp and Jack o' Lantern, suggest a country fellow bearing a lantern or straw torch (wisp).
