n., pl., -cies.
- The mental faculty through which whims, visions, and fantasies are summoned up; imagination, especially of a whimsical or fantastic nature. See synonyms at imagination.
- An image or a fantastic invention created by the mind.
- A capricious notion; a whim.
- A capricious liking or inclination.
- Critical sensibility; taste.
- Amorous or romantic attachment; love.
- The enthusiasts or fans of a sport or pursuit considered as a group.
- The sport or pursuit, such as boxing, engaging the interest of such a group.
- Highly decorated: a fancy hat.
- Arising in the fancy; capricious.
- Executed with skill; complex or intricate: the fancy footwork of a figure skater.
- Of superior grade; fine: fancy preserves.
- Excessive or exorbitant: paid a fancy price for the car.
- Bred for unusual qualities or special points.
- To visualize; imagine: "She tried to fancy what the flame of a candle looks like after the candle is blown out" (Lewis Carroll).
- To take a fancy to; like.
- To suppose; guess.
[From Middle English fantsy, imagination, fantasy, from fantasie. See fantasy.]
fancily fan'ci·ly adv.fanciness fan'ci·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
