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imagine

 - 4 dictionary results

im⋅ag⋅ine

  [i-maj-in] verb, -ined, -in⋅ing.
Use imagine in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to form a mental image of (something not actually present to the senses).
2. to think, believe, or fancy: He imagined the house was haunted.
3. to assume; suppose: I imagine they'll be here soon.
4. to conjecture; guess: I cannot imagine what you mean.
5. Archaic. to plan, scheme, or plot.
–verb (used without object)
6. to form mental images of things not present to the senses; use the imagination.
7. to suppose; think; conjecture.
Origin:
1300–50; ME imaginen < MF imaginer < L imāginārī, equiv. to imāgin- (s. of imāgō) image + -ā- thematic vowel + -rī inf. ending

Related forms:
i⋅mag⋅in⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. image, picture. Imagine, conceive, conceive of, realize refer to bringing something before the mind. To imagine is, literally, to form a mental image of something: to imagine yourself in London. To conceive is to form something by using one's imagination: How has the author conceived the first act of his play? To conceive of is to comprehend through the intellect something not perceived through the senses: Wilson conceived of a world free from war. To realize is to make an imagined thing real or concrete to oneself, to grasp fully its implications: to realize the extent of one's folly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To imagine
i·mag·ine   (ĭ-māj'ĭn)   
v.   i·mag·ined, i·mag·in·ing, i·mag·ines

v.   tr.

  1. To form a mental picture or image of.

  2. To think; conjecture: I imagine you're right.

  3. To have a notion of or about without adequate foundation; fancy: She imagines herself to be a true artist.

v.   intr.

  1. To employ the imagination.

  2. To make a guess; conjecture.


[Middle English imaginen, from Old French imaginer, from Latin imāginārī, from imāgō, imāgin-, image; see aim- in Indo-European roots.]
i·mag'in·er 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

imagine 
1340, "to form a mental image of," from O.Fr. imaginer, from L. imaginari "to form a mental picture to oneself, imagine" (also, in L.L. imaginare "to form an image of, represent"), from imago (see image). Sense of "suppose" is first recorded c.1380. Imaginary "not real" is from 1382 (ymaginaire). First record of imagination "faculty of the mind which forms and manipulates images" is from c.1340 (ymaginacion). Imaginative first attested c.1386 (ymaginatyf).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: imag·ine
Pronunciation: im-'aj-&n
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: imag·ined; imag·in·ing /-'aj-(&-)ni[ng]/
transitive senses
: to form a mental image of (something not present) imagine intransitive senses
: to use theimagination
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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