will-o'-the-wisp

will-o'-the-wisp

 (wĭl′ə-thə-wĭsp′)

n.

1. See ignis fatuus.

2. A delusive or misleading hope.

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[From Will, nickname for William.]

will-o'-the-wisp

(ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp)

n

1. (Chemistry) Also called: friar's lantern, ignis fatuus or 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

[C17: 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]

ˌwill-o'-the-ˈwispish, ˌwill-o'-the-ˈwispy adj

will-o'-the-wisp

(ˈwɪl ə ðəˈwɪsp)

n.

1. ignis fatuus (def. 1).

2. anything that deludes or misleads by luring on; an elusive thing or person.

[1600–10; orig. Will (i.e., William) with the wisp]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	will-o'-the-wisp - a pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground friar's lantern, ignis fatuus, jack-o'-lantern light, visible light, visible radiation - (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation; "the light was filtered through a soft glass window"
	2.	will-o'-the-wisp - an illusion that misleads ignis fatuus fancy, phantasy, illusion, fantasy - something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy"

will-o'-the-wisp

noun

An erroneous perception of reality:

delusion, hallucination, ignis fatuus, illusion, mirage, phantasm, phantasma.

Translations

will-o'-the-wisp

[ˈwɪləðəˈwɪsp] N (lit) → fuego m fatuo (fig) → quimera f

will-o'-the-wisp

[ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp] n (= elusive person, thing) → feu follet m

will-o'-the-wisp

[ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp] n (also) (fig) → fuoco fatuo