Definition

Noun, (sera:bı), Persian serāb

An optical illusion caused by the refraction of light rays in the atmosphere, frequently observed in deserts. This phenomenon creates the appearance of an object and its inverted reflection as if seen from a water surface. In Turkish, it has synonyms like ılgım, yalgın, and pusarık:

"Expecting any benefit apart from these books would be like expecting water from a mirage." - Necip Fazıl Kısakürek

Etymology

The word originates from the Arabic sarāb (سَراب), meaning “a mirage seen in the desert.” It may be derived from the Arabic verb saraba (سَرَبَ), which means “went, escaped, (water) flowed away, (camel) wandered off,” though this is not certain.

The ultimate meaning of the Arabic word could be “something that retreats or escapes as one approaches.” It might also relate to the Hebrew/Aramaic/Syriac shərab, meaning “burning intensely under extreme heat, becoming incandescent.”

No semantic connection can be established with the Persian sarāb, meaning “water source, spring.”

Earliest written usage:

"Vanity in the earthly abode is akin to being deceived by the glitter of a mirage." - [Sinan Paşa, Tazarru'nâme, 1482]

Applications

• Literature and Philosophy: Often used metaphorically to depict illusory or deceptive hopes.
• Science: Studied as part of atmospheric optical phenomena and light refraction.
• Colloquial Language: Used figuratively to describe empty promises or unattainable dreams.

Example Sentences

• The mirage in the middle of the desert misled the traveler, ensnaring their hopes.
• “Some ideals in life are like mirages; the closer you get, the farther they retreat.”
• In Necip Fazıl’s works, the mirage often symbolizes dreams that end in futility.