fancy

fancy
fancy (n.) mid-15c., contraction of FANTASY (Cf. fantasy), it took the older and longer word's sense of "inclination, whim, desire." Meaning "fans of an amusement or sport, collectively" is attested by 1735, especially (though not originally) of the prize ring. The modern verb meaning "take a liking to" (1540s) is a contraction of fantasien "to fantasize (about)." Meaning "to imagine" is from 1550s. Related: Fancied; fancies; fancying. Colloquial use in fancy that, etc. is recorded by 1813. The adjective is recorded from mid-18c.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Fancy — Manfred Alois Segieth (1988) Fancy bei einem Disco Auftritt (1988) Fancy (* 7. Juli …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fancy — Fan cy, a. 1. Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes. [1913 Webster] 2. Extravagant; above real value. [1913 Webster] This anxiety never degenerated …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fancy — [fan′sē] n. pl. fancies [ME fantsy, contr. < fantasie: see FANTASY] 1. imagination, now esp. light, playful, or whimsical imagination 2. illusion or delusion 3. a mental image 4. an arbitrary idea; notion; caprice; whim 5. an …   English World dictionary

  • Fancy — Fan cy (f[a^]n s[y^]), 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fancy — n 1 Caprice, freak, whim, whimsy, conceit, vagary, crotchet 2 imagination, fantasy Antonyms: experience 3 Fancy, fantasy, phantasy, phantasm, vision, dream, daydream, nightmare are comparable when they denote a vivid idea or image, or a series of …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fancy — ► VERB (fancies, fancied) 1) Brit. informal feel a desire for. 2) Brit. informal find sexually attractive. 3) regard as a likely winner. 4) imagine. 5) used to express surprise: fancy that! …   English terms dictionary

  • fancy — [adj] extravagant, ornamental adorned, baroque, beautifying, chichi*, complicated, cushy, custom, decorated, decorative, deluxe, elaborate, elegant, embellished, fanciful, florid, frilly, froufrou*, garnished, gaudy, gingerbread*, intricate,… …   New thesaurus

  • Fancy — Fan cy, v. t. 1. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine. [1913 Webster] He whom I fancy, but can ne er express. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fancy —   [ fænsɪ; englisch, eigentlich »Fantasie«],    1) die, / s, Musik: Fantasy [ fæntəsɪ], die der Geschichte der musikalischen Fantasie zugehörige Hauptform der englischen Kammermusik von etwa 1575 bis 1680. Sie entwickelte sich aus dem… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Fancy — (engl., spr. Fänßi), Phantasie, daher Fancy Artikel, Modewaaren, verzierte Schmucksachen. Fancy Fair (spr. Fänßisähr), Ausstellung u. Verkauf von weiblichen Handarbeiten zu milden Zwecken …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Fancy — Fan cy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fancied}, p. pr. & vb. n. {Fancying}.] 1. To figure to one s self; to believe or imagine something without proof. [1913 Webster] If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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