GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Fancy , 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. bhāto shine. Cf. Fantasy, Fantasia, Epiphany, Phantom.]
   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.
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   In the soul
   Are many lesser faculties, that serve
   Reason as chief. Among these fancy next
   Her office holds.
   Milton.
   
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   An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit.
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   How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone,
   Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ?
   Shak.
   
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   An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression.
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   I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children.
   Locke.
   
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   Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking.
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   To fit your fancies to your father's will.
   Shak.
   
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   That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
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   London pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
   Mortimer.
   
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   A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
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   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.
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   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.
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2.       
   Fancy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fancied , p. pr. & vb. n. Fancying .]
   To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof.
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   If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
   Locke.
   
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   To love. [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
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3.       
   Fancy, v. t.
   To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
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   He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express.
   Dryden.
   
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   To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners. “We fancy not the cardinal.”
   Shak.
   
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   To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal).
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   He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his kinsmen.
   Thackeray.
   
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4.       
   Fancy, a.
   Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes.
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   Extravagant; above real value.
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   This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.
   Macaulay.
   
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   Fancy ball, a ball in which porsons appear in fanciful dresses in imitation of the costumes of different persons and nations. -- Fancy fair, a fair at which articles of fancy and ornament are sold, generally for some charitable purpose. -- Fancy goods, fabrics of various colors, patterns, etc., as ribbons, silks, laces, etc., in distinction from those of a simple or plain color or make. -- Fancy line (Naut.), a line rove through a block at the jaws of a gaff; -- used to haul it down. -- Fancy roller (Carding Machine), a clothed cylinder (usually having straight teeth) in front of the doffer. -- Fancy stocks, a species of stocks which afford great opportunity for stock gambling, since they have no intrinsic value, and the fluctuations in their prices are artificial. -- Fancy store, one where articles of fancy and ornament are sold. -- Fancy woods, the more rare and expensive furniture woods, as mahogany, satinwood, rosewood, etc.
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