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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FAN'CY, n. [contracted from fantasy, L. phantasia. Gr. from to cause to appear, to seem, to imagine, from to show, to appear, to shine. The primary sense seems to be to open, or to shoot forth.]
1. The faculty by which the mind forms images or representations of things at pleasure. It is often used as synonymous with imagination; but imagination is rather the power of combining and modifying our conceptions.
2. An opinion or notion.
I have always had a fancy, that learning might be made a play and recreation to children.
3. Taste; conception.
The little chapel called the salutation in very neat, and built with a pretty fancy.
4. Image; conception; thought.
How now, my lord, why do you keep alone;
Of sorriest fancies your companions making?
5. Inclination; liking. Take that which suits your fancy.
How does this strike your fancy?
His fancy lay to traveling.
6. Love.
Tell me where is fancy bred.
7. Caprice; humor; whim; as an odd or strange fancy.
True worth shall gain me, that it may be said,
Desert, not fancy, once a woman led.
8. False notion.
9. Something that pleases or entertains without real use or value.
London-pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
FAN'CY, v.i. To imagine; to figure to one's self; to believe or suppose without proof. All may not be our enemies whom we fancy to be so.
If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
FAN'CY, v.t.
1. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express.
2. To like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners. We fancy a person for beauty and accomplishment. We sometimes fancy a lady at first sight, whom, on acquaintance, we cannot esteem.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: not plain; decorative or ornamented; "fancy handwriting"; "fancy clothes" [ant: plain] n
1: something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy" [syn: illusion, fantasy, phantasy, fancy]
2: a kind of imagination that was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than true imagination
3: a predisposition to like something; "he had a fondness for whiskey" [syn: fondness, fancy, partiality] v
1: imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind; "I can't see him on horseback!"; "I can see what will happen"; "I can see a risk in this strategy" [syn: visualize, visualise, envision, project, fancy, see, figure, picture, image]
2: have a fancy or particular liking or desire for; "She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window" [syn: fancy, go for, take to]

Merriam Webster's

I. transitive verb (fancied; fancying) Date: 14th century 1. to have a fancy for ; like 2. to form a conception of ; imagine <fancy our embarrassment> 3. a. to believe mistakenly or without evidence b. to believe without being certain <she fancied she had met him before> 4. to visualize or interpret as <fancied myself a child again> Synonyms: see think II. noun (plural fancies) Etymology: Middle English fantasie, fantsy imagination, image, illusion, preference, from Anglo-French fantasie illusion, from Latin phantasia, from Greek, appearance, imagination, from phantazein to present to the mind (middle voice, to imagine), from phainein to show; akin to Old English geb?ned polished, Greek ph?s light Date: 15th century 1. a. a liking formed by caprice rather than reason ; inclination <took a fancy to the mutt> b. amorous fondness ; love 2. a. notion, whim b. an image or representation of something formed in the mind 3. archaic fantastic quality or state 4. a. imagination especially of a capricious or delusive sort b. the power of conception and representation used in artistic expression (as by a poet) 5. taste, judgment 6. a. devotees of some particular art, practice, or amusement b. the object of interest of such a fancy; especially boxing I III. adjective (fancier; -est) Date: 1646 1. dependent or based on fancy ; whimsical 2. a. (1) not plain ; ornamental <a fancy hairdo> (2) swanky 2, posh <a fancy restaurant> b. (1) of particular excellence or highest grade <fancy tuna> (2) impressive <posted some fancy numbers> c. of an animal or plant bred especially for bizarre or ornamental qualities that lack practical utility 3. based on conceptions of the fancy <fancy sketches> 4. a. dealing in fancy goods b. extravagant <paying fancy prices> 5. executed with technical skill and style <fancy footwork> <fancy diving> 6. parti-color <fancy carnations> • fancily adverb • fanciness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n., adj., & v. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 an individual taste or inclination (take a fancy to). 2 a caprice or whim. 3 a thing favoured, e.g. a horse to win a race. 4 an arbitrary supposition. 5 a the faculty of using imagination or of inventing imagery. b a mental image. 6 delusion; unfounded belief. 7 (prec. by the) those who have a certain hobby; fanciers, esp. patrons of boxing. --adj. (usu. attrib.) (fancier, fanciest) 1 ornamental; not plain. 2 capricious, whimsical, extravagant (at a fancy price). 3 based on imagination, not fact. 4 US (of foods etc.) above average quality. 5 (of flowers etc.) particoloured. 6 (of an animal) bred for particular points of beauty etc. --v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1 (foll. by that + clause) be inclined to suppose; rather think. 2 Brit. colloq. feel a desire for (do you fancy a drink?). 3 Brit. colloq. find sexually attractive. 4 colloq. have an unduly high opinion of (oneself, one's ability, etc.). 5 (in imper.) an exclamation of surprise (fancy their doing that!). 6 picture to oneself; conceive, imagine. Phrases and idioms: catch (or take) the fancy of please; appeal to. fancy dress fanciful costume, esp. for masquerading as a different person or as an animal etc. at a party. fancy-free without (esp. emotional) commitments. fancy goods ornamental novelties etc. fancy man sl. derog. 1 a woman's lover. 2 a pimp. fancy woman sl. derog. a mistress. fancy-work ornamental sewing etc. Derivatives: fanciable adj. (in sense 3 of v.). fancily adv. fanciness n. Etymology: contr. of FANTASY

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fancy Fan"cy, 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. bh[=a]to shine. Cf. Fantasy, Fantasia, Epiphany, Phantom.] 1. 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. In the soul Are many lesser faculties, that serve Reason as chief. Among these fancy next Her office holds. --Milton. 2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit. How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ? --Shak. 3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression. I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children. --Locke. 4. Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking. To fit your fancies to your father's will. --Shak. 5. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value. London pride is a pretty fancy for borders. --Mortimer. 6. A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.] --Shak. 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. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know. --Locke. 2. To love. [Obs.] --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fancy Fan"cy, v. t. 1. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine. He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express. --Dryden. 2. 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. 3. To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal). He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his kinsmen. --Thackeray.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fancy Fan"cy, a. 1. Adapted to please the fancy or taste; ornamental; as, fancy goods. 2. Extravagant; above real value. This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants. --Macaulay. 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

I. WANTING, LIKING, OR THINKING (fancies, fancying, fancied) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. If you fancy something, you want to have it or to do it. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL) What do you fancy doing, anyway?... I just fancied a drink. VERB: V -ing, V n 2. A fancy is a liking or desire for someone or something, especially one that does not last long. She did not suspect that his interest was just a passing fancy. = whim N-COUNT: usu with supp 3. If you fancy someone, you feel attracted to them, especially in a sexual way. (INFORMAL) I think he thinks I fancy him or something. VERB: V n 4. If you fancy yourself as a particular kind of person or fancy yourself doing a particular thing, you like the idea of being that kind of person or doing that thing. So you fancy yourself as the boss someday?... I didn't fancy myself wearing a kilt. VERB: V pron-refl as n, V pron-refl -ing 5. If you say that someone fancies themselves as a particular kind of person, you mean that they think, often wrongly, that they have the good qualities which that kind of person has. She fancies herself a bohemian... ...a flighty young woman who really fancies herself. VERB: V pron-refl n, V pron-refl 6. If you say that you fancy a particular competitor or team in a competition, you think they will win. (BRIT) You have to fancy Bath because they are the most consistent team in England... I fancy England to win through. VERB: V n, V n to-inf 7. You say 'fancy' or 'fancy that' when you want to express surprise or disapproval. It was very tasteless. Fancy talking like that so soon after his death... 'Fancy that!' smiled Conti. EXCLAM [feelings] 8. If you take a fancy to someone or something, you start liking them, usually for no understandable reason. Sylvia took quite a fancy to him... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/-ing 9. If something takes your fancy or tickles your fancy, you like it a lot when you see it or think of it. She makes most of her own clothes, copying any fashion which takes her fancy. PHRASE: V inflects II. ELABORATE OR EXPENSIVE (fancier, fanciest) 1. If you describe something as fancy, you mean that it is special, unusual, or elaborate, for example because it has a lot of decoration. It was packaged in a fancy plastic case with attractive graphics. ...fancy jewellery. ADJ: usu ADJ n 2. If you describe something as fancy, you mean that it is very expensive or of very high quality, and you often dislike it because of this. (INFORMAL) They sent me to a fancy private school. ADJ: usu ADJ n

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fan'-si (phantazo, "to cause to appear," "show"): In Ecclesiasticus 34:5, "And the heart fancieth, as a woman's in travail" (compare The Wisdom of Solomon 6:16; Heb 12:21).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Imagination (properly, as exercised in sportive or whimsical moods), which see. 2. Pleasing conceit, happy conception, striking thought, ideal image, bright stroke. 3. Notion, idea, thought, conception, conceit, impression, apprehension, image. 4. Liking, fondness, inclination, penchant, taste. 5. Caprice, humor, whim, crotchet, quirk, freak, vagary, whimsey, maggot, fantasy, odd fancy. II. v. n. Imagine, think, suppose, apprehend, conjecture, believe, take it. III. v. a. 1. Conceive, imagine, form a conception of, figure to one's self. 2. Like, be pleased with, have a fancy for. IV. a. 1. Imaginative, of the fancy, fancied. 2. Ornamental (rather than useful), elegant, fine, nice. 3. Fanciful, extravagant, beyond all real worth.

Moby Thesaurus

Amor, Babylonian, Byzantine, Christian love, Corinthian, Daedalian, Eros, Platonic love, a bit much, abandoned, account as, adept, admiration, adoration, adorned, adroit, affection, affinity, agape, aim at, ambitious, animus, apparition, appetence, appetency, appetite, apprehension, approve, apt, arabesque, ardency, ardor, artistic, assume, attachment, attraction, authoritative, automatic response, awe-inspiring, awful, bag, barbaric, baroque, be afraid, be desirous of, be fond of, be partial to, bee, befrilled, believe, bent, bias, blind impulse, bodily love, boundless, boutade, brain wave, brainchild, brainstorm, bravura, brilliant, brotherly love, bubble, burn with love, busy, capriccio, caprice, capricious, care for, caritas, charity, chichi, chimera, choice, choose, chosen kind, classy, clean, clever, coin, colored, command, complex, complicated, conation, conatus, conceit, conceive, concept, conception, conceptualize, conclude, concoct, concupiscence, conjecture, conjugal love, conjure up, consider, contrariness, coordinated, costly, crack, crackerjack, crank, crave, craving, craze, crazy idea, create, creation, creativeness, creativity, crotchet, cunning, cup of tea, curiosity, cute, cutthroat, daedal, daresay, daydream, dear, dear-bought, decision, decorated, decorative, deem, deft, delirium, delusion, delusive, deluxe, desiderate, desideration, desire, determination, devotion, dexterous, dextrous, diplomatic, discretion, disposition, divine, dote on, dote upon, dream, dream up, drive, druthers, eagerness, egregious, eidolon, elaborate, elegant, embellished, embroidered, endorse, enormous, envisage, envisagement, envision, envisioning, esteem, estimate, exacting, exaggerated, excellent, excessive, exorbitant, expect, expensive, experience imaginatively, expert, extortionate, extravagant, extreme, fable, fabricate, fabrication, fabulous, fad, faithful love, fanciful, fantasize, fantasque, fantastic, fantastic notion, fantasticism, fantasy, fascination, favor, feel, fervor, festooned, fiction, fictionalize, figment, figurative, figured, fine, flamboyant, flame, flash, fleeting impulse, flight of fancy, flimflam, florid, flossy, flowery, fondness, fool notion, freak, freakish inspiration, free choice, free love, free will, free-lovism, frilly, fumes of fancy, fussy, gather, gigantic, gingerbread, glorious, gluttonous, go for, good, goodish, gouging, graceful, grand, grandiose, grant, grossly overpriced, guess, gut response, hallucination, handy, hankering, harebrained idea, hatch, have a hunch, have an idea, have an impression, have an inkling, have designs on, have eyes for, have it bad, have the idea, heart, hero worship, high, high-class, high-flown, high-flying, high-priced, high-toned, high-wrought, highfalutin, highfaluting, hold, hold as, hope, horme, humor, hunger for, hyperbolic, hypertrophied, idea, ideate, idle fancy, idolatry, idolism, idolization, illusion, illusory, image, imagery, imagination, imaginativeness, imagine, imagining, imago, immoderate, imposing, impression, impressive, impulse, inclination, incontinent, infer, inflated, inflationary, ingenious, inordinate, inspiration, instinct, insubstantial image, intellectual curiosity, intellectual object, intemperate, intention, intricate, invent, invention, inventiveness, involuntary impulse, irrationality, judge, kink, labored, lasciviousness, leaning, let, let be, libido, like, liking, lofty, long for, longing, look upon as, love, lovemaking, lush, lust, lust after, lust for learning, luxuriant, luxurious, luxury, maggot, magisterial, magnificent, maintain, majestic, make up, make-believe, married love, masterful, masterly, megrim, memory-trace, mental image, mental impression, mind, mirage, mold, monstrous, moresque, mutual affinity, mutual attraction, myth, natural impulse, neat, need, nightmare, no mean, noble, not affordable, notion, objectification, objective, observation, of great cost, opine, opinion, originate, ornamental, ornamented, ornate, ostentatious, out of bounds, out of sight, outrageous, overbig, overcharged, overdeveloped, overelaborate, overelegant, overgreat, overgrown, overlabored, overlarge, overloaded, overmuch, overpriced, overweening, overworked, overwrought, palatial, partiality, particular choice, passing fancy, passion, peculiarity, penchant, perception, personal choice, perverseness, phantasm, phantom, physical love, picture, picturesque, pine for, pleasure, pleasure principle, plush, politic, popular regard, popularity, posh, predilection, predisposition, prefer, preference, prefigure, prejudice, premium, prepossession, preposterous, presume, presuppose, presurmise, pretentious, pretty-pretty, pricey, prime, princely, proclivity, produce, professional, proficient, prohibitive, propensity, proud, provisionally accept, purple, quality, quick, quick hunch, quirk, quite some, ready, recept, reckon, reflection, reflex, regard, representation, repute, resolution, resourceful, rich, ritzy, rococo, romance, sanction, say, select, sentiment, set down as, sex, sexual desire, sexual love, shape, shine, sick fancy, skillful, skyrocketing, slick, some, special, spiraling, spiritual love, splendacious, splendid, splendiferous, stately, statesmanlike, steep, stiff, style, stylish, sudden thought, sumptuous, superb, superfancy, superfine, superior, suppose, supposition, surmise, suspect, swank, swanky, swell, sympathy, tactful, take, take for, take for granted, take it, take to, take to be, taste, tendency, tender feeling, tender passion, the compleat, the complete, theory, thick-coming fancies, thing, think, think up, thirst for knowledge, thought, tony, too much, top, toy, trip, trow, truelove, turn, type, unbridled, unconscionable, understand, undue, unpayable, unrealistic, unreality, unreasonable, unreasonableness, unrestrained, unwarranted, urge, usurious, uxoriousness, vagary, vapor, vaunting, velleity, view as, virtuoso, vision, visionary, visualize, volition, want, wanting, weakness, ween, well-done, whim, whim-wham, whimsical, whimsy, wildest dreams, will, will and pleasure, will power, wish, wish for, wish fulfillment, wish to goodness, wish very much, workmanlike, worship, would fain do, yearning