Noun

fancy (plural fancies)Category:English lemmas#FANCYCategory:English nouns#FANCYCategory:English countable nouns#FANCYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#FANCYCategory:Pages with entries#FANCYCategory:Pages with 5 entries#FANCY

1. The imagination.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 100-103:

     […] But know that in the soul / Are many lesser faculties, that serve / Reason as chief; among these Fancy next / Her office holds […]

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1835, Alfred Tennyson, “Locksley Hall”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 94:

     In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish’d dove; / In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1861 December, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, “A New Counterblast”, in Atlantic Monthly, page 700:

     Rustic females who habitually chew even pitch or spruce-gum are rendered thereby so repulsive that the fancy refuses to pursue the horror farther and imagine it tobacco […]

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1871, Charles Kingsley, “The High Woods”, in At Last: A Christmas in the West Indies. […], volume I, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 232:

     [I]n ten minutes more the sun was up, and blazing so fiercely, that we were glad to cool ourselves in fancy, by talking over salmon-fishings in Scotland and New Brunswick, and wadings in icy streams beneath the black pine-woods.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 221:

     For a time she could not soothe nor convince him that it was fancy.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.

   Synonyms: conception, thought, idea

   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, / Of sorriest fancies your companions making, / Using those thoughts which should indeed have died / With them they think on?

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 88:

     Her timbers were olden dreams dreamed long ago, and poets’ fancies made her tall, straight masts, and her rigging was wrought out of the people’s hopes.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.

   Synonym: impression

   • 1650, John Bulwer, “To His Honoured Friend, Thomas Diconson, Esquire”, in Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d; or, The Artificial Changeling. […], London: […] J. Hardesty, […], →OCLC:

     VVhen you have vvell vievved the Scenes and Deviliſh ſhapes of this Practical Metamorphoſis, and ſcan'd them in your ſerious thoughts, you vvill vvonder at their audacious phant'ſies, vvho ſeem to hold Specifical deformities, or that any part can ſeeme unhandſome in their Eyes, vvhich hath appeared good and beautiful unto their Maker: […]

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1693, [John Locke], “(please specify the section number)”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:

     I have always had a Fancy, that Learning might be made a Play and Recreation to Children […]

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

     I dare say I am merely a foolish woman with a young girl's fancies.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

4. A whim.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:whim

   I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

5. Love or amorous attachment.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:predilection

   • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 36:

     And they’ve taken a fancy to me, Aunt said. Kitto and the others. That means they like me.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

6. Liking.

   He took a fancy to the goods in the window.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

7. The object of inclination or liking.
   • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

     For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself / To fit your fancies to your father’s will;

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

8. Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.

   Synonyms: hobby; see also Thesaurus:hobby

   Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   the cat fancyCategory:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

9. The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:fan

   He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   • 1830 September, Thomas De Quincey, “Review of Life of Richard Bentley, D.D. by J.H. Monk, D.D.”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine‎, volume 28, number 171, p. 446, footnote:

     […] at a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the Fancy, on a copy occurring, not one of the company but ourself knew what the mystical title-page meant.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

10. A diamond with a distinctive colour.
11. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
    • 18th century, John Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving Land, cited in Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, 1755,

      London-pride is a pretty fancy, and does well for borders.

12. A bite-sized sponge cake, with a layer of cream, covered in icing.

    a French fancy; a fondant fancy; cream fancies

13. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#FANCY) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
    • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], signature F3, verso:

      [He] ſung thoſe tunes to the ouer-ſchutcht huſwiues, that he heard the Car-men whiſtle, and ſware they were his fancies or his good-nights, […]

      Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

14. In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
    • 1970, Marta Weigle, Follow my fancy: the book of jacks and jack games, page 22:

      When you have mastered plainsies, the regular jack game, and have learned all the rules, you will be ready to use this part of the book. A fancy is a variation of plainsies which usually requires more skill than plainsies does.

      Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

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    • 2002, Elizabeth Dana Jaffe, Sherry L. Field, Linda D. Labbo, Jacks, page 26:

      When you get good at jacks, try adding a fancy. A fancy is an extra round at the end of a game. It makes the game a little harder. Jack Be Nimble, Around the World, or Black Widow are some fancies.

      Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

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15. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#FANCY, slangCategory:English slang#FANCY, in combination) A colored neckerchief worn at prizefights to show support for a contender.

    the yellow fancy; the cream fancy; the blood-red fancyCategory:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

Adjective

fancy (comparative fancier, superlative fanciest)Category:English lemmas#FANCYCategory:English adjectives#FANCYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#FANCYCategory:Pages with entries#FANCYCategory:Pages with 5 entries#FANCY

1. Decorative, or featuring decorations, especially intricate or diverse ones.

   Synonyms: decorative, ornate

   Antonyms: plain, simple

   This is a fancy shawl.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

2. Of a superior grade.

   Synonym: high-end

   This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

3. Executed with skill.

   He initiated the game-winning play with a fancy deked saucer pass to the winger.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

4. (colloquialCategory:English colloquialisms#FANCY) Unnecessarily complicated.

   Synonym: highfalutin

   Antonym: simple

   I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

5. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#FANCY) Extravagant; above real value.
   • 1859, Thomas Macaulay, The Life of Frederick the Great:

     This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

Adverb

fancy (not comparable)Category:English lemmas#FANCYCategory:English adverbs#FANCYCategory:English uncomparable adverbs#FANCYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#FANCYCategory:Pages with entries#FANCYCategory:Pages with 5 entries#FANCY

1. (nonstandardCategory:English nonstandard terms#FANCY) In a fancy manner; fancily.
   • 1970, Troy Conway, The Cunning Linguist, London: Flamingo Books, page 131:

     I igonored it, hurdling her navel, riding her torso and taking both her breasts in my hands and mashing them none too fancy.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

Verb

fancy (third-person singular simple present fancies, present participle fancying, simple past and past participle fancied)Category:English lemmas#FANCYCategory:English verbs#FANCYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#FANCYCategory:Pages with entries#FANCYCategory:Pages with 5 entries#FANCY

1. (formalCategory:English formal terms#FANCY) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.

   I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

2. (BritishCategory:British English#FANCY) Would like; have a desire for.

   Synonym: feel like

   I fancy a burger tonight for dinner.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   Do you fancy going to town this weekend?Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

3. (BritishCategory:British English#FANCY, informalCategory:English informal terms#FANCY) To be sexually, aesthetically or romantically attracted to.

   Synonym: (US) like

   I fancy that girl over there.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   • c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii:

     How can you fancie one that lookes so fierce, / Onely diſpoſed to martiall Stratagems? / UUho when he ſhal embrace you in his arms / UUil tell how many thouſand men he ſlew.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1988, John Christopher, When the Tripods Came:

     “Hanna’s different,” I said.
     ”Oh yes, isn’t she?” she said scornfully. “Because you fancy her. Well, you’re not likely to impress her talking that way.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

4. (datedCategory:English dated terms#FANCY or in a set phrase) To imagine, suppose.

   [dated] I fancy you'll want something to drink after your long journey.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   I fancy this is an error.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   Fancy meeting you here!Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   You won't get the gig just because you fancy yourself a musician.Category:English terms with usage examples#FANCY

   • a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:

     If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 128:

     Quiet and dark, beside him stood the Phantom, with its outstretched hand. When he roused himself from his thoughtful quest, he fancied from the turn of the hand, and its situation in reference to himself, that the Unseen Eyes were looking at him keenly. It made him shudder, and feel very cold.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1857–1859, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1858–1859, →OCLC:

     He fancied he was welcome, because those around him were his kinsmen.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1878, Henry James, An International Episode‎:

     “Fancy a French waiter at a club,” said his friend.
     The young Englishman started a little, as if he could not fancy it.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1895 May 29, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, chapter X, in The Time Machine: An Invention, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC:

     I fancied at first the stuff was paraffin wax, and smashed the jar accordingly. But the odor of camphor was unmistakable.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 22, in The Dust of Conflict:

     Appleby […] rose from his seat when Morales came in. He shook hands urbanely, unbuckled his sword, and laid his kepi on the table, and then sat down with an expression of concern in his olive face which Appleby fancied was assumed.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 2026 March 26, “Bernie Sanders doubles down on his dumbest idea”, in The Washington Post‎, via EBSCOhost:

     Future prosperity is never guaranteed. [Bernie] Sanders fancies himself a revolutionary, but he's behaving like a reactionary - throwing sand into the gears of progress.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

5. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.

   Synonym: imagine

   • 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Seventh Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:

     he whom I fancy, but can ne'er express

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     It was such a scene of confusion as you can hardly fancy. All the lockfast places had been broken open in quest of the chart.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

6. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

     We fancy not the cardinal.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

7. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#FANCY) To breed (animals) as a hobby.
   • 1973, American Pigeon Journal, page 159:

     I would recommend this little book very highly to anyone who fancies pigeons, novices and veterans alike.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FANCY

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Declension

• The form fancy is indeclinable: eine fancy Uhr. However, optional declined and compared forms can be built from the stem fancig: eine fancige Uhr.