| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024will-o'-the-wisp /ˈwɪləðəˈwɪsp/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- a flickering light seen at night over marshy ground, believed to be caused by the burning of marsh gas.
- one that is hard to see or achieve:Peace in that embattled part of the world is just a will-o'-the-wisp.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024will-o'-the-wisp (wil′ə ᵺə wisp′),USA pronunciation n. - See ignis fatuus (def. 1).
- anything that deludes or misleads by luring on.
- 1600–10; origin, originally Will (i.e., William) with the wisp; see wisp
[esp. Brit.,] will′o'-the-wisp′y, adj. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: will-o'-the-wisp /ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp/ n - Also called: friar's lantern, ignis fatuus, jack-o'-lantern a pale flame or phosphorescence sometimes seen over marshy ground at night. It is believed to be due to the spontaneous combustion of methane or other hydrocarbons originating from decomposing organic matter
- a person or thing that is elusive or allures and misleads
Etymology: 17th Century: originally Will with the wisp, from Will short for William and wisp in former sense of a twist of hay or straw burning as a torchˌwill-o'-the-ˈwispish, ˌwill-o'-the-ˈwispy |