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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Fancy \Fan"cy\, v. t.
1. 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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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.
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3. 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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Fancy \Fan"cy\ (f[a^]n"s[y^]), 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.
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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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2. 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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3. 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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4. 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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5. 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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6. 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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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.
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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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2. To love. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Fancy \Fan"cy\, a.
1. 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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2. 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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