c.1440, perhaps a shortening of O.Fr.
pantaisier "to be out of breath" (12c.), probably from V.L.
*pantasiare "be oppressed with a nightmare, struggle for breathing during a nightmare," lit. "to have visions," from Gk.
phantasioun "have or form images, subject to hallucinations," from
phantasia "appearance, image, fantasy" (see
phantasm). The noun is attested from c.1500.
[pant] 
