Derived from French mirer, meaning to look at or examine in a reflective surface, with the suffix -age. The optical sense is attested in the eighteenth century, the figurative illusion soon after, and the egg-inspection sense later from the same idea of examining by light.
What does mirage mean in French?
Mirage most often means an optical illusion caused by refraction, and it also means a deceptive hope or the candling of eggs.
Is mirage masculine or feminine?
Mirage is masculine, so French uses un mirage and le mirage.
How is mirage used figuratively?
It describes a hope, promise, or attractive appearance that seems real but proves deceptive.
Can mirage refer to egg inspection?
Yes. In technical French, mirage can mean examining eggs by shining light through the shell.
What causes a physical mirage?
Layers of air at different temperatures bend light, making objects seem displaced or making water seem present.
What is the plural of mirage?
The regular plural is mirages.
Is mirage the same as illusion?
Illusion is broader. A physical mirage is a specific optical illusion, while the figurative sense is close to chimère or leurre.
What are useful French words near mirage?
Useful related words include réfraction, chimère, leurre, ovoscopie, and Fata Morgana.