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Fancy

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fan⋅cy

  [fan-see] noun, plural -cies, adjective, -ci⋅er, -ci⋅est, verb, -cied, -cy⋅ing, interjection
Use Fancy in a Sentence
–noun
1. imagination or fantasy, esp. as exercised in a capricious manner.
2. the artistic ability of creating unreal or whimsical imagery, decorative detail, etc., as in poetry or drawing.
3. a mental image or conception: He had happy fancies of being a famous actor.
4. an idea or opinion with little foundation; illusion: Her belief that she can sing is a mere fancy.
5. a caprice; whim; vagary: It was his fancy to fly to Paris occasionally for dinner.
6. capricious preference; inclination; a liking: to take a fancy to walking barefoot in the streets.
7. critical judgment; taste.
8. the breeding of animals to develop points of beauty or excellence.
9. love.
10. the fancy, Archaic. people deeply interested in a sport, art, etc.
–adjective
11. made, designed, grown, adapted, etc., to please the taste or fancy; of superfine quality or exceptional appeal: fancy goods; fancy fruits.
12. ornamental; decorative; not plain: a cake with a fancy icing.
13. depending on imagination or caprice; whimsical; irregular: a fancy conception of time.
14. bred to develop points of beauty or excellence, as an animal.
15. much too costly; exorbitant or extravagant: a consultant who charges fancy fees.
–verb (used with object)
16. to form a conception of; picture to oneself: Fancy living with that egotist all your life!
17. to believe without being absolutely sure or certain: I fancy you are my new neighbor.
18. to take a liking to; like.
19. to breed to develop a special type of animal.
–interjection
20. (used as an exclamation of mild surprise): They invited you, too? Fancy!
—Verb phrase
21. fancy up, to make superficially showy by way of improvement: an old car fancied up with a bright new paint job.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME fan(t)sy, syncopated var. of fantasie fantasy

Related forms:
fan⋅ci⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. Fancy, fantasy, imagination refer to qualities in literature or other artistic composition. The creations of fancy are casual, whimsical, and often amusing, being at once less profound and less moving or inspiring than those of imagination: letting one's fancy play freely on a subject; an impish fancy. Fantasy now usually suggests an unrestrained or extravagant fancy, often resulting in caprice: The use of fantasy in art creates interesting results. The term and concept of creative imagination are less than two hundred years old; previously only the reproductive aspect had been recognized, hardly to be distinguished from memory. “Creative imagination” suggests that the memories of actual sights and experiences may so blend in the mind of the writer or artist as to produce something that has never existed before—often a hitherto unperceived vision of reality: to use imagination in portraying character and action. 3. thought, notion, impression, idea; phantasm. 5. quirk, humor, crotchet. 11. fine, elegant, choice. 12. decorated, ornate. 16. envision, conceive, imagine.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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fan·cy   (fān'sē)   
n.   pl. fan·cies

  1. The mental faculty through which whims, visions, and fantasies are summoned up; imagination, especially of a whimsical or fantastic nature. See Synonyms at imagination.

  2. An image or a fantastic invention created by the mind.

  3. A capricious notion; a whim.

  4. A capricious liking or inclination.

  5. Critical sensibility; taste.

  6. Amorous or romantic attachment; love.

    1. The enthusiasts or fans of a sport or pursuit considered as a group.

    2. The sport or pursuit, such as boxing, engaging the interest of such a group.

adj.   fan·ci·er, fan·ci·est

  1. Highly decorated: a fancy hat.

  2. Arising in the fancy; capricious.

  3. Executed with skill; complex or intricate: the fancy footwork of a figure skater.

  4. Of superior grade; fine: fancy preserves.

  5. Excessive or exorbitant: paid a fancy price for the car.

  6. Bred for unusual qualities or special points.

tr.v.   fan·cied, fan·cy·ing, fan·cies

  1. To visualize; imagine: "She tried to fancy what the flame of a candle looks like after the candle is blown out" (Lewis Carroll).

  2. To take a fancy to; like.

  3. To suppose; guess.


[From Middle English fantsy, imagination, fantasy, from fantasie; see fantasy.]
fan'ci·ly adv., fan'ci·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

fancy  (n.)
1465, contraction of fantasy, it took the older and longer word's sense of "inclination, whim, desire." The v. meaning "take a liking to" (1545) is a contraction of fantasien "to fantasize (about)." The adj. is mid-18c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

fancy

see flight of fancy; footloose and fancy-free; take a fancy to; tickle one's fancy;.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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