fancy

English Online Dictionary. What means fancy‎? What does fancy mean?

English

Alternative forms

• fancie, fansie, fant’sy, phancie, phancy, phansie, phansy, phant’sy (all obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæn.si/
• Rhymes: -ænsi

Etymology 1

From Middle English fansy, fantsy, a contraction of fantasy, fantasye, fantasie, from Old French fantasie, from Medieval Latin fantasia, from Late Latin phantasia (“an idea, notion, fancy, phantasm”), from Ancient Greek φαντασία (phantasía), from φαντάζω (phantázō, “to render visible”), from φαντός (phantós, “visible”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to make visible”); from the same root as φάος (pháos, “light”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂nyéti, from the root *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). Doublet of fantasia, fantasy, phantasia, and phantasy.

Noun

fancy (plural fancies)

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

   Synonyms: conception, thought, idea
3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.

   Synonym: impression
4. A whim.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:whim

5. Love or amorous attachment.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:predilection

6. The object of inclination or liking.
7. Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.

   Synonyms: hobby; see also Thesaurus:hobby

8. The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:fan
9. A diamond with a distinctive colour.
10. 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,^[3]

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

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

    a French fancy; a fondant fancy; cream fancies

12. (obsolete) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
13. In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
14. (obsolete, slang, in combination) A colored neckerchief worn at prizefights to show support for a contender.

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

fancy (comparative fancier, superlative fanciest)

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

   Synonyms: decorative, ornate

   Antonyms: plain, simple

2. Of a superior grade.

   Synonym: high-end

3. Executed with skill.

4. (colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.

   Synonym: highfalutin

   Antonym: simple

5. (obsolete) Extravagant; above real value.

Derived terms

Descendants

• → German: fancy
• → Norwegian Bokmål: fancy
• → Norwegian Nynorsk: fancy

Translations

Adverb

fancy (not comparable)

1. (nonstandard) In a fancy manner; fancily.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fancien, fantasien, fantesien, from Old French fantasier, from the noun (see above)).

Verb

fancy (third-person singular simple present fancies, present participle fancying, simple past and past participle fancied)

1. (formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.

2. (British) Would like; have a desire for.

   Synonym: feel like

3. (British, informal) To be sexually attracted to.

   Synonym: (US) like
4. (dated or in a set phrase) To imagine, suppose.
5. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.

   Synonym: imagine
6. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
7. (transitive) To breed (animals) as a hobby.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• fantasy
• fancy man
• fancypants
• fancy woman
• fancy is as fancy does

References

Further reading

• Fancy in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English fancy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæːnsi/

Adjective

fancy (indeclinable)

1. fancy

References

• “fancy” in Den Danske Ordbog

German

Etymology

Borrowed from English fancy. Doublet of Fantasie.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɛnsi/

Adjective

fancy (indeclinable)

1. (colloquial) fancy (decorative, not everyday, high-end)

   Synonyms: schick, ausgefallen, fein

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.

Further reading

• “fancy” in Duden online
• “fancy” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

Borrowed from English fancy.

Adjective

fancy (indeclinable)

1. fancy

References

• “fancy” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

Borrowed from English fancy.

Adjective

fancy (indeclinable)

1. fancy

References

• “fancy” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.