Webster's English Dictionary

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fancy

Cross references:
  1. imagination            2. think                 
 
1. fan.cy \'fan(t)-se-\ n [ME fantasie, fantsy fantasy, fancy, fr. MF 
   fantasie, fr. L (Xphantasia, fr. Gk, appearance, imagination, fr. 
   phantazein to present to the mind (middle voice, to imagine), fr. phainein 
   to show; akin to OE gebo-ned polished, Gk pho-s light 1a: a liking formed 
   by caprice rather than reason : INCLINATION  1b: amorous fondness : LOVE  
   2a: NOTION, WHIM  2b: a mental image or representation  archaic  3: 
   fantastic quality or state  4a: imagination esp. of a capricious or 
   delusive sort  4b: the power of conception and representation used in 
   artistic expression  (as by a poet) 5: TASTE, JUDGMENT  6a: devotees of 
   some particular art, practice, or amusement  6b: the object of interest of 
   such a fancy; esp : PUGILISM 
2. fancy vt 1: to have a fancy for : LIKE  2: to form a conception of : 
   IMAGINE  3: to believe without any evidence 
3. fancy aj 1: dependent or based on fancy : WHIMSICAL  2a: not plain : 
   ORNAMENTAL  2b: of particular excellence or highest grade  of an animal or 
   plant  2c: bred for special qualities esp. such as lack practical utility  
   3: based on conceptions of the fancy {~ sketches}  4a: dealing in fancy 
   goods  4b: above real value or the usual market price; esp : EXTRAVAGA NT 
   5: executed with technical skill and superior grace  6: PARTI-COLORED