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will-o'-the-wisp |
Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.02 sec. |
will-o'-the-wisp [ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp] n
1. (Chemistry) Also called friar's lantern ignis fatuus jack-o'-lantern a pale flame or phosphorescence sometimes seen over marshy ground at night. It is believed to be due to the spontaneous combustion of methane or other hydrocarbons originating from decomposing organic matter 2. a person or thing that is elusive or allures and misleads [originally Will with the wisp, from Will short for William and wisp in former sense of a twist of hay or straw burning as a torch] will-o-the-wispish , will-o-the-wispy adj ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
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Here in thy loneliness the eglantine Weaves her sweet tapestries above thy head, While blow across thy bed, Moist with the dew of heaven, the breezes chill: Fire-fly, will-o'-the-wisp, and wandering star Glow in thy gloom, and naught is heard but the far Chanting of woodman and shepherd from the hill, Naught but the startled bird is seen Soaring away in the moonland sheen, Or the hulk of the scampering beast that fears Their plaintive lays as, to and fro, The pallid singers go. There was quite a bewildering succession of drives, dances, picnics and boating parties, all expressively lumped together by Phil under the head of "jamborees"; Alec and Alonzo were so constantly on hand that Anne wondered if they ever did anything but dance attendance on that will-o'-the-wisp of a Phil. T ain't ABUSE exactly, I know, or 't wouldn't be to some o' your elephant-hided young ones; but to that little tender will-o'-the-wisp a hard word 's like a lash. |
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