Fancy

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents

English

Alternative spellings

fant'sy, Phant'sy (both obsolete)

Etymology

Fancy arises in late middle english as a contraction of the word fantasy. From Old French and Early French fantasie, itself from the Late Latin fantasia, which originated from the Greek Phantazein (phan. to render visible). Related words include diaphanous (transparent), epiphany (manifestation).

the Noun Fancy can usually still be replaced with the older word fantasy without any change of meaning.

Noun

Singular
fancy

Plural
fancies

  1. The imagination; an imagined image.
    The film rose from Stephen's fancy.
  2. A whim.
    I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.
  3. Love or amorous attachment.
    He took a fancy to her.
  4. Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
    Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.
  5. The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
    He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.

Adjective

Positive
fancy

Comparative
fancier

Superlative
fanciest

  1. Decorative.
    This is a fancy shawl.
  2. Of a superior grade.
    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.
    I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

decorative

Verb

Infinitive
to fancy

Third person singular
fancies

Simple past
fancied

Past participle
fancied

Present participle
fancying

  1. (transitive) (old-fashioned) To imagine
    I fancy you'll want something to drink after your long journey
    Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.
  2. (transitive) (British; colloquial) To be sexually attracted to.
    I fancy you in that hat.
  3. (British) would like to
    I fancy a burger tonight for dinner
    Do you fancy going to town this weeekend?

Synonyms

  • (be sexually attracted to) like (US)

Translations

imagine

be sexually attracted to

See also

fr:fancy io:fancy hu:fancy ru:fancy zh:fancy

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