|ignə̇sˈfachəwəs noun
( plural ig·nes fat·ui -ˌnēzˈfachəˌwī)
Etymology: Medieval Latin, literally, foolish fire
1. : a light that sometimes appears in the night usually over marshy ground and that is often attributable to the combustion of marsh gas — called also jack-o'-lantern, will-o'-the wisp
2. : a deceptive or false goal : a misleading ideal
the ignis fatuus of a world without wars