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illusion |
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illusion 1. Psychol a perception that is not true to reality, having been altered subjectively in some way in the mind of the perceiver 2. a very fine gauze or tulle used for trimmings, veils, etc. illusion [ə′lü·zhən] (psychology) A false interpretation of a real sensation; a perception that misinterprets the object perceived. Illusion See also Appearances, Deceiving. Barmecide feast imaginary feast served t0 beggar by prince. [Arab. Lit.: Arabian Nights, “The Barmecide’s Feast”] supposedly invisible to unworthy people; in reality, nonexistent. [Dan. Lit.: Andersen’s Fairy Tales] esp. in the Straits of Messina: named for Morgan le Fay. [Ital. Folklore: Espy, 14] as an imaginary compensation for their childlessness, pretend they have a son, who would now be twenty-one. [Am. Drama: Edward Albee Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in On Stage, 447] drama of St. Louis family escaping reality through illusion (1945). [Am. Lit.: The Glass Menagerie, Magill III, 418–420] Mrs. Forrester’s affairs destroyed his image of her. [Am. Lit.: A Lost Lady] English Don Quixote; opponent of repressive laws. [Br. Lit.: Hudibras, Espy, 204] saw philanderer Brad Criley as true lover. [Am. Lit.: Cass Timberlane] something illusory, such as an imaginary tree and pond in the midst of a desert. [Pop. Usage: Misc.] imagines self in brilliant and heroic roles. [Am. Lit.: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” in Cartwell, 606–610] attacks windmills thinking them giants. [Span. Lit.: Don Quixote] imaginative dog. [Comics: “Peanuts” in Horn, 542–543]
place appearing in Coleridge’s dream; where Kubla Khan “did/A stately pleasure-dome decree.” [Br. Lit.: “Kubla Khan” in Payton, 744] How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched, for they are full of the truthless ideals which have been instilled into them, and each time they come in contact with the real they are bruised and wounded. He exchanges new lamps for old, the spangles of illusion for the drabs of reality, and in the end cheats all who traffic with him. As its holiest, it once loved "Thou-shalt": now is it forced to find illusion and arbitrariness even in the holiest things, that it may capture freedom from its love: the lion is needed for this capture. |
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