What does will-o'-the-wisp mean?
Definitions for will-o'-the-wisp
ˈwɪl ə ðəˈwɪspwill-o'-the-wisp
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word will-o'-the-wisp.
Princeton's WordNet
friar's lantern, ignis fatuus, jack-o'-lantern, will-o'-the-wispnoun
a pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground
will-o'-the-wisp, ignis fatuusnoun
an illusion that misleads
ChatGPT
will-o'-the-wisp
A will-o'-the-wisp, also known as ignis fatuus, is a phenomenon often seen in marshy or swampy areas where it appears as a faint light that seems to move further away when approached. It's caused by the combustion of gases emitted by decomposing organic matter. Symbolically, it refers to a goal or person that is difficult to reach or catch, or something misleading or elusive.
Webster Dictionary
Will-o'-the-wispnoun
see Ignis fatuus
Wikidata
Will-o'-the-wisp
A will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus are atmospheric ghost lights seen by travellers at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes. It resembles a flickering lamp and is said to recede if approached, drawing travellers from the safe paths. The phenomenon is known by a variety of names, including jack-o'-lantern, hinkypunk, and hobby lantern in English folk belief, well attested in English folklore and in much of European folklore.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Will-o'-the-wisp
wil′-o-the-wisp′, n. the ignis-fatuus: any deluding person or thing.
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of will-o'-the-wisp in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of will-o'-the-wisp in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9
Examples of will-o'-the-wisp in a Sentence
One may have a blazing hearth in one's soul and yet no one ever come to sit by it. Passersby see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on the way.
There may be a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke.
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"will-o'-the-wisp." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/will-o%27-the-wisp>.
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