n.; pl. Fancies [ Contr. fr. fantasy, OF. fantasie, fantaisie, F. fantaisie, L. phantasia, fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; appearance, imagination, the power of perception and presentation in the mind, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to make visible, to place before one's mind, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to show; akin to &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, light, Skr. bhāto shine. Cf. Fantasy, Fantasia, Epiphany, Phantom. ] 1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the soul
Are many lesser faculties, that serve
Reason as chief. Among these fancy next
Her office holds. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit. [ 1913 Webster ]

How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking. [ 1913 Webster ]

To fit your fancies to your father's will. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value. [ 1913 Webster ]

London pride is a pretty fancy for borders. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

At a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy. De Quincey.

Syn. -- Imagination; conceit; taste; humor; inclination; whim; liking. See Imagination. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fancied p. pr. & vb. n. Fancying ] 1. To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof. [ 1913 Webster ]

If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To love. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine. [ 1913 Webster ]

He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners. “We fancy not the cardinal.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal). [ 1913 Webster ]

He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his kinsmen. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Extravagant; above real value. [ 1913 Webster ]

This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [ Frederick the Great's ] father to pay fancy prices for giants. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Naut.), a line rove through a block at the jaws of a gaff; -- used to haul it down. --
Fancy roller (Carding Machine), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from the power of love. “In maiden meditation, fancy-free.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A lovemonger; a whimsical lover. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Love-sick. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Ornamental work with a needle or hook, as embroidery, crocheting, netting, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]