ignis fatuus

[ ig-nis fach-oo-uhs ]

noun

, plural ig·nes fat·u·i [ig, -neez , fach, -oo-ahy].

1. 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.
2. something deluding or misleading.

ignis fatuus

/ ˈɪɡnɪs ˈfætjʊəs /

noun

1. another name for will-o'-the-wisp

Word History and Origins

Origin of ignis fatuus¹

1555–65; < Medieval Latin: literally, foolish fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of ignis fatuus¹

C16: from Medieval Latin, literally: foolish fire

Example Sentences

“That is an ignis fatuus,” was my first thought; and I expected it would soon vanish.

From Literature

The ignis fatuus was sometimes supposed to be the soul of an unbaptised child.

From Project Gutenberg

We are beginning to believe Magdala to be a fata morgana, an ignis fatuus, which gets more and more distant the nearer we approach it.

From Project Gutenberg

Never did a geographical entity seem so to play the ignis fatuus with the world as did the River.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor he, nor any of the brave Plantagenets ever came to Ireland, for they were pursuing an ignis fatuus in France, instead of attending to their own business at home.

From Project Gutenberg