Fancy /(făn"sy̆)/

Fan·cy

Fancy

pl. Fancies

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.
In the soul Are many lesser faculties, that serve Reason as chief. Among these fancy next Her office holds.
— Milton.
An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit.
How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ?
— Shak.
An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression.
I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children.
— Locke.
Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking.
To fit your fancies to your father's will.
— Shak.
That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
London pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
— Mortimer.
A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.]
At a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy.
— De Quincey.

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.

v. i.

imp. & p. p. Fancied; p. pr. & vb. n. Fancying

To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof.
If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
— Locke.
To love. [Obs.]

v. t.

To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express.
— Dryden.
To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal).
He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his kinsmen.
— Thackeray.

Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes.
Extravagant; above real value.
This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.
— Macaulay.

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: a line rove through a block at the jaws of a gaff; -- used to haul it down.
Fancy roller: 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.