Will-o'-the-wisp
11Will-o'-the-wisp — For other uses, see Will o the wisp (disambiguation). Will o the wisp Phenomenon An 1882 oil painting of a will o the wisp by Arnold Böcklin See also …
12will-with-the-wisp — ˈwilwithəˈwisp noun Etymology: Will (nickname for William) + with + the + wisp archaic : will o the wisp …
13will o' the wisp — UK [ˌwɪl əðə ˈwɪsp] / US noun [countable] Word forms will o the wisp : singular will o the wisp plural will o the wisps 1) literary something that is impossible to achieve 2) literary someone who you cannot depend on 3) a blue light caused by… …
14Will-o'-the-wisp — Ignis fatuus Ig nis fat u*us; pl. {Ignes fatui}. [L. ignis fire + fatuus foolish. So called in allusion to its tendency to mislead travelers.] 1. A phosphorescent light that appears, in the night, over marshy ground, supposed to be occasioned by… …
15Will-with-the-wisp — Ignis fatuus Ig nis fat u*us; pl. {Ignes fatui}. [L. ignis fire + fatuus foolish. So called in allusion to its tendency to mislead travelers.] 1. A phosphorescent light that appears, in the night, over marshy ground, supposed to be occasioned by… …
16will-o'-the-wisp — noun Etymology: Will (nickname for William) + of + the + wisp Date: circa 1661 1. ignis fatuus 1 2. a delusive or elusive goal • will o the wisp adjective …
17will-o'-the-wisp — noun 1》 a phosphorescent light seen hovering or floating at night on marshy ground, thought to result from the combustion of natural gases. 2》 a person or thing that is difficult or impossible to reach or catch. Origin C17: orig. as Will with the …
18will-o'-the-wisp — n. 1 a phosphorescent light seen on marshy ground, perhaps resulting from the combustion of gases. 2 an elusive person. 3 a delusive hope or plan. Etymology: orig. Will with the wisp: wisp = handful of (lighted) hay etc …
19will-o'-the-wisp — [[t]wɪ̱l ə ðə wɪ̱sp[/t]] will o the wisps N COUNT: usu sing You can refer to someone or something that keeps disappearing or that is impossible to catch or reach as a will o the wisp …
20will-o'-the-wisp — Something that deceives by its appearance is a will o’ the wisp; it looks good, but turns out to be a disappointment. (Dorking School Dictionary) …
