Fata Morgana

[ Italian fah-tah mawr-gah-nah ]

noun

1. 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 /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Fata Morgana¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Fata Morgana¹

C19: from Italian: Morgan le Fay

Example Sentences

In it he wrote: “I saw the iceberg, looming high/ and cold, like a cold fata morgana,/ it drifted slowly, irrevocably,/ white, nearer to me.”

From New York Times

Conducting monetary policy with an eye on the neutral rate is "like driving a car through the desert aiming for an oasis on the horizon, that you know is nothing more than a Fata Morgana," he told clients in a recent note.

From Reuters

The Fata Morgana is a special type of superior mirage, a term assigned to mirages that are manifest in objects appearing taller or higher than they actually are.

From Washington Post

The Fata Morgana made headlines two weeks ago, when a floating ship was photographed offshore of Cornwall, England.

From Washington Post

Instead, his image captures a rare phenomenon known as the “Fata Morgana,” a sight coveted by mariners and meteorologists alike for its curious, devilish bending of light.

From Washington Post