imagination, esp. when extravagant and unrestrained.
2.
the forming of mental images, esp. wondrous or strange fancies; imaginative conceptualizing.
3.
a mental image, esp. when unreal or fantastic; vision: a nightmare fantasy.
4.
Psychology. an imagined or conjured up sequence fulfilling a psychological need; daydream.
5.
a hallucination.
6.
a supposition based on no solid foundation; visionary idea; illusion: dreams of Utopias and similar fantasies.
7.
caprice; whim.
8.
an ingenious or fanciful thought, design, or invention.
9.
Also, fantasia.Literature. an imaginative or fanciful work, esp. one dealing with supernatural or unnatural events or characters: The stories of Poe are fantasies of horror.
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME fantasie imaginative faculty, mental image (< AF, OF) < L phantasia < Gk phantasía an idea, notion, image, lit., a making visible; see fantastic, -y3]
A coin issued especially by a questionable authority and not intended for use as currency.
Obsolete A hallucination.
tr.v.
fan·ta·sied, fan·ta·sy·ing, fan·ta·sies
To imagine; visualize.
[Middle English fantasie, fantsy, from Old French fantasie, from Latin phantasia, from Greek phantasiā, appearance, imagination, from phantazesthai, to appear, from phantos, visible, from phainesthai, to appear; see bhā-1 in Indo-European roots.]
c.1325, "illusory appearance," from O.Fr. fantasie, from L. phantasia, from Gk. phantasia "appearance, image, perception, imagination," from phantazesthai "picture to oneself," from phantos "visible," from phainesthai "appear," in late Gk. "to imagine, have visions," related to phaos, phos "light." Sense of "whimsical notion, illusion" is pre-1400, followed by that of "imagination," which is first attested 1539. Sense of "day-dream based on desires" is from 1926, as is fantasize.
an imaginary (especially not realistic) scene, story etc Example: He was always having fantasies about becoming rich and famous; (also adjective) He lived in a fantasy world.
Arabic:
خَيال، تَوَهُّم
Chinese (Simplified):
幻想
Chinese (Traditional):
幻想
Czech:
fantazie, představa
Danish:
fantasi; fantasi-
Dutch:
fantasie
Estonian:
fantaasia, unistus
Finnish:
fantasia
French:
(de) fantaisie
German:
die Phantasie, Phantasie-…, auch Fantasy als Genre
Fan"cy\, n.; pl. Fancies. [Contr. fr. fantasy, OF. fantasie, fantaisie, F. fantaisie, L. phantasia, fr. Gr. ???????? appearance, imagination, the power of perception and presentation in the mind, fr. ???????? to make visible, to place before one's mind, fr. ??????? to show; akin to ????, ???, light, Skr. bh[=a]to shine. Cf. Fantasy, Fantasia, Epiphany, Phantom.]1. The faculty by which the mind forms an image or a representation of anything perceived before; the power of combining and modifying such objects into new pictures or images; the power of readily and happily creating and recalling such objects for the purpose of amusement, wit, or embellishment; imagination. In the soul Are many lesser faculties, that serve Reason as chief. Among these fancy next Her office holds. --Milton. 2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit. How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ? --Shak. 3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression. I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children. --Locke. 4. Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking. To fit your fancies to your father's will. --Shak. 5. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value. London pride is a pretty fancy for borders. --Mortimer. 6. A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.] --Shak. The fancy, all of a class who exhibit and cultivate any peculiar taste or fancy; hence, especially, sporting characters taken collectively, or any specific class of them, as jockeys, gamblers, prize fighters, etc. At a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy. --De Quincey. Syn: Imagination; conceit; taste; humor; inclination; whim; liking. See Imagination.