fancy

• fancie, fansie, fant’sy, phancie, phancy, phansie, phansy, phant’sy (all obsolete)

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæn.si/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -ænsi

From Middle English fansy, fantsy, a contraction of fantasy, fantasye, fantasie, from Old French fantasie, from Medieval Latin fantasia, from Late Latin phantasia (“an idea, notion, fancy, phantasm”), from Ancient Greek φαντασία (phantasía), from φαντάζω (phantázō, “to render visible”),^[1] from φαντός (phantós, “visible”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to make visible”); from the same root as φάος (pháos, “light”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂nyéti, from the root *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). Doublet of fantasia, fantasy, phantasia, and phantasy.

fancy (plural fancies)

1. The imagination.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 100-103:

     […] But know that in the soul / Are many lesser faculties, that serve / Reason as chief; among these Fancy next / Her office holds […]

   • 1835, Alfred Tennyson, “Locksley Hall”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 94:

     In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish’d dove; / In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.

   • 1861 December, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, “A New Counterblast”, in Atlantic Monthly, page 700:

     Rustic females who habitually chew even pitch or spruce-gum are rendered thereby so repulsive that the fancy refuses to pursue the horror farther and imagine it tobacco […]

   • 1871, Charles Kingsley, “The High Woods”, in At Last: A Christmas in the West Indies. […], volume I, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 232:

     [I]n ten minutes more the sun was up, and blazing so fiercely, that we were glad to cool ourselves in fancy, by talking over salmon-fishings in Scotland and New Brunswick, and wadings in icy streams beneath the black pine-woods.

   • 1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 221:

     For a time she could not soothe nor convince him that it was fancy.

2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.

   Synonyms: conception, thought, idea

   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, / Of sorriest fancies your companions making, / Using those thoughts which should indeed have died / With them they think on?

   • 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 88:

     Her timbers were olden dreams dreamed long ago, and poets’ fancies made her tall, straight masts, and her rigging was wrought out of the people’s hopes.

3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.

   Synonym: impression

   • 1650, John Bulwer, Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d‎^[1], 2nd edition, London, published 1653, Epistle Dedicatory, pp. 2-3:

     When you have well viewed the Scenes and Devillish shapes of this Practicall Metamorphosis, and scan’d them in your serious thoughts, you will wonder at their audacious phant’sies, who seeme to hold Specificall deformities, or that any part can seeme unhandsome in their Eyes, which hath appeared good and beautifull unto their Maker […]

   • 1693, [John Locke], “(please specify the section number)”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:

     I have always had a Fancy, that Learning might be made a Play and Recreation to Children […]

   • 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

     I dare say I am merely a foolish woman with a young girl's fancies.

4. A whim.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:whim

   I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.

5. Love or amorous attachment.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:predilection

   • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 36:

     And they’ve taken a fancy to me, Aunt said. Kitto and the others. That means they like me.

   He took a fancy to her.

6. The object of inclination or liking.
   • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

     For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself / To fit your fancies to your father’s will;

7. Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.

   Synonyms: hobby; see also Thesaurus:hobby

   Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.

   the cat fancy

8. The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:fan

   He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.

   • 1830 September, Thomas De Quincey, “Review of Life of Richard Bentley, D.D. by J.H. Monk, D.D.”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine‎^[2], volume 28, number 171, p. 446, footnote:

     […] at a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the Fancy, on a copy occurring, not one of the company but ourself knew what the mystical title-page meant.

9. A diamond with a distinctive colour.
10. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
    • 18th century, John Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving Land, cited in Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, 1755,^[3]

      London-pride is a pretty fancy, and does well for borders.

11. A bite-sized sponge cake, with a layer of cream, covered in icing.

    a French fancy; a fondant fancy; cream fancies

12. (obsolete) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
    • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

      [He] sung those tunes to the overscutch’d huswifes that he heard the carmen whistle, and sware they were his fancies or his good-nights.

13. In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
    • 1970, Marta Weigle, Follow my fancy: the book of jacks and jack games, page 22:

      When you have mastered plainsies, the regular jack game, and have learned all the rules, you will be ready to use this part of the book. A fancy is a variation of plainsies which usually requires more skill than plainsies does.

    • 2002, Elizabeth Dana Jaffe, Sherry L. Field, Linda D. Labbo, Jacks, page 26:

      When you get good at jacks, try adding a fancy. A fancy is an extra round at the end of a game. It makes the game a little harder. Jack Be Nimble, Around the World, or Black Widow are some fancies.

14. (obsolete, slang, in combination) A colored neckerchief worn at prizefights to show support for a contender.

    the yellow fancy; the cream fancy; the blood-red fancy

fancy (comparative fancier, superlative fanciest)

1. Decorative, or featuring decorations, especially intricate or diverse ones.

   Synonyms: decorative, ornate

   Antonyms: plain, simple

   This is a fancy shawl.

2. Of a superior grade.

   Synonym: high-end

   This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.

3. Executed with skill.

   He initiated the game-winning play with a fancy deked saucer pass to the winger.

4. (colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.

   Synonym: highfalutin

   Antonym: simple

   I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.

5. (obsolete) Extravagant; above real value.
   • 1859, Thomas Macaulay, The Life of Frederick the Great:

     This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.

• → German: fancy
• → Norwegian Bokmål: fancy
• → Norwegian Nynorsk: fancy

fancy (not comparable)

1. (nonstandard) In a fancy manner; fancily.
   • 1970, Troy Conway, The Cunning Linguist, London: Flamingo Books, page 131:

     I igonored it, hurdling her navel, riding her torso and taking both her breasts in my hands and mashing them none too fancy.

From Middle English fancien, fantasien, fantesien, from Old French fantasier, from the noun (see above)).

fancy (third-person singular simple present fancies, present participle fancying, simple past and past participle fancied)

1. (formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.

   I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.

2. (British) Would like; have a desire for.

   Synonym: feel like

   I fancy a burger tonight for dinner.

   Do you fancy going to town this weekend?

3. (British, informal) To be sexually attracted to.

   Synonym: (US) like

   I fancy that girl over there.

   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii:

     How can you fancie one that lookes so fierce, / Onely diſpoſed to martiall Stratagems? / UUho when he ſhal embrace you in his arms / UUil tell how many thouſand men he ſlew.

4. (dated or in a set phrase) To imagine, suppose.

   [dated] I fancy you'll want something to drink after your long journey.

   I fancy this is an error.

   Fancy meeting you here!

   Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.

   You won't get the gig just because you fancy yourself a musician.

   • a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:

     If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.

   • 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 128:

     Quiet and dark, beside him stood the Phantom, with its outstretched hand. When he roused himself from his thoughtful quest, he fancied from the turn of the hand, and its situation in reference to himself, that the Unseen Eyes were looking at him keenly. It made him shudder, and feel very cold.

   • 1857–1859, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1858–1859, →OCLC:

     He fancied he was welcome, because those around him were his kinsmen.

   • 1878, Henry James, An International Episode‎^[4]:

     “Fancy a French waiter at a club,” said his friend.
     The young Englishman started a little, as if he could not fancy it.

   • 1895 May 7, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, chapter X, in The Time Machine: An Invention, New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Company, →OCLC:

     I fancied at first the stuff was paraffin wax, and smashed the jar accordingly. But the odor of camphor was unmistakable.

   • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 22, in The Dust of Conflict:

     Appleby […] rose from his seat when Morales came in. He shook hands urbanely, unbuckled his sword, and laid his kepi on the table, and then sat down with an expression of concern in his olive face which Appleby fancied was assumed.

5. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.

   Synonym: imagine

   • 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Seventh Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: Printed for Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:

     he whom I fancy, but can ne'er express

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     It was such a scene of confusion as you can hardly fancy. All the lockfast places had been broken open in quest of the chart.

6. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

     We fancy not the cardinal.

7. (transitive) To breed (animals) as a hobby.
   • 1973, American Pigeon Journal, page 159:

     I would recommend this little book very highly to anyone who fancies pigeons, novices and veterans alike.

• fantasy
• fancy man
• fancypants
• fancy woman
• fancy is as fancy does

• Fancy in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

Borrowed from English fancy.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæːnsi/

fancy (indeclinable)

1. fancy

• “fancy” in Den Danske Ordbog

Borrowed from English fancy. Doublet of Fantasie.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɛnsi/

fancy (indeclinable)

1. (colloquial) fancy (decorative, not everyday, high-end)

   Synonyms: schick, ausgefallen, fein

• The form fancy is indeclinable: eine fancy Uhr. However, optional declined and compared forms can be built from the stem fancig: eine fancige Uhr.

• “fancy” in Duden online
• “fancy” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Borrowed from English fancy.

fancy (indeclinable)

1. fancy

• “fancy” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Borrowed from English fancy.

fancy (indeclinable)

1. fancy

• “fancy” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.