whimsey
English
Noun
(en-noun)
* Bancroft
- mistaking the whimseys of a feverish brain for the calm revelation of truth
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fancy
English
Noun
(fancies)
The imagination.
* Milton
- In the soul / Are many lesser faculties, that serve / Reason as chief. Among these fancy next / Her office holds.
An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea.
* Shakespeare
- How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, / Of sorriest fancies your companions making?
An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; an impression.
* John Locke
- I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children.
A whim.
- I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.
Love or amorous attachment.
- He took a fancy to her.
The object of inclination or liking.
* Shakespeare
- to fit your fancies to your father’s will
Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
- Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.
- the cat fancy
The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
- He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.
* De Quincey
- a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy
A diamond with a distinctive colour.
That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
* Mortimer
- London pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
(obsolete) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
- (Shakespeare)
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.
* 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.
Derived terms
* flight of fancy
* tickle someone’s fancy
Adjective
(er)
Decorative.
- This is a fancy shawl.
Of a superior grade.
- This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.
Executed with skill.
- He initiated the game winning play with a fancy , deked saucer pass to the winger.
(colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.
- I’m not keen on him and his fancy ideas.
(obsolete) Extravagant; above real value.
* Macaulay
- This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great’s] father to pay fancy prices for giants.
Synonyms
* (decorative) decorative, ornate
* (unnecessarily complicated) highfalutin
Antonyms
* (decorative) plain, simple
* (unnecessarily complicated) simple
Verb
(en-verb)
(formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.
- I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.
(British) would like
- I fancy a burger tonight for dinner
- Do you fancy going to town this weekend?
(British, informal) To be sexually attracted to.
- I fancy that girl over there.
(dated) To imagine, suppose.
- I fancy you’ll want something to drink after your long journey.
- Fancy meeting you here!
- Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.
* John Locke
- If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
* Thackeray
- He fancied he was welcome, because those around him were his kinsmen.
* 1895 , H. G. Wells, The Time Machine Chapter X
- I fancied at first the stuff was paraffin wax, and smashed the jar accordingly. But the odor of camphor was unmistakable.
To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
* Dryden
- he whom I fancy , but can ne’er express
To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
* Shakespeare
- We fancy not the cardinal.
Synonyms
* (be sexually attracted to) like (US)
* (would like to) feel like
Derived terms
* fancy that
See also
* fantasy
* fancy man
* fancy oneself
* fancypants
* fancy woman
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