— phantasmagorial, phantasmagoric /fan taz'meuh gawr"ik, -gor"-/ , phantasmagorical, phantasmagorian , adj. — phantasmagorially, phantasmagorically, phantasmagorianly , adv. — phantasmagorist , n.
/fan taz'meuh gawr"ee euh, -gohr"-/ , n.
1. a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
2. a changing scene made up of many elements.
3. an optical illusion produced by a magic lantern or the like in which figures increase or diminish in size, pass into each other, dissolve, etc.
[ 1795-1805; fantasmagorie, compound based on fantasme PHANTASM; second element perh. repr. Gk agorá assembly, gathering; see -IA ]