phantasmagoria

Meaning

Noun

• A popular 18th- and 19th-century form of theatre entertainment whereby ghostly apparitions are formed.
• A series of events involving rapid changes in light intensity and colour.
• A dreamlike state where real and imagined elements are blurred together.

Origin

• From French phantasmagorie, from Ancient Greek φάντασμα ("ghost") + possibly either ἀγορά + the suffix or ἀγορεύω.