Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A luminous appearance or flame, as the ignis fatuus, supposed by the superstitious to presage death.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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From the choked well, whence a bright death-fire sprung,
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Fuel for a death-fire had been heaped up in that one miserable day.
The Old Homestead Ann S. Stephens
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The arquebusiers were within the rampart, and death-fire and nauseous smoke spurted from a dozen different places.
Sea-Dogs All! A Tale of Forest and Sea Tom Bevan
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Now let me lie where death-fire flames and flashes,
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I remember that there instantly burst from the line of guards on either side crinkling beams of death-fire that seemed to sear the eyeballs.
Edison's Conquest of Mars Garrett Putnam Serviss
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It was this cheerfulness, he found, glimmering like some weird death-fire over the actual horror, which made his realisation of the tragedy the more poignant, and lent even a certain distinction to the poverty which she described.
The Wheel of Life Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow 1909
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Stroke upon stroke he gave his enemy, who continued to cast forth his death-fire, so that
National Epics Kate Milner Rabb 1901
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From the choked well, whence a bright death-fire sprung,
The Revolt of Islam 1901
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I remember that there instantly burst from the line of guards on either side crinkling beams of death-fire that seemed to sear the eyeballs.
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With the cult of her own family she has nothing more to do; and the funeral ceremonies performed upon her departure from the parental roof, -- the solemn sweeping-out of the house-rooms, the lighting of the death-fire before the gate, -- are significant of this religious separation.
Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877
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