[fan.cy] vt fan.cied ; fan.cy.ing (14c) 1: to have a fancy for: like
2: to form a conception of: imagine "~ our embarrassment" 3 a: to believe mistakenly or without evidence b: to believe without being certain "she fancied she had met him before"
4: to visualize or interpret as "fancied myself a child again" syn see think
[2]fancy n, pl fancies [ME fantasie, fantsy fantasy, fancy, fr. MF fantasie, fr. L phantasia, fr. Gk, appearance, imagination, fr. phantazein to present to the mind (middle voice, to imagine), fr. phainein to show; akin to OE geboned polished, Gk phos light] (15c) 1 a: a liking formed by caprice rather than reason: inclination "took a ~ to the strange little animal" b: amorous fondness: love
2. a: notion, whim b: an image or representation of something formed in the mind 3 archaic: fantastic quality or state
4. a: imagination esp. of a capricious or delusive sort b: the power of conception and representation used in artistic expression (as by a poet)
5: taste, judgment
6. a: devotees of some particular art, practice, or amusement b: the object of interest of such a fancy; esp:
[2]boxing [3]fancy adj fan.ci.er ; -est (1646) 1: dependent or based on fancy: whimsical
2. a (1): not plain: ornamental "a ~ hairdo" (2): swanky 2, posh "a ~ restaurant" b (1): of particular excellence or highest grade "~ tuna" (2): impressive "posted some ~ numbers" c of an animal or plant: bred esp. for bizarre or ornamental qualities that lack practical utility
3: based on conceptions of the fancy "~ sketches"
4. a: dealing in fancy goods b: extravagant "paying ~ prices"
5: executed with technical skill and style "~ footwork" "~ diving"
6: parti-color "~ carnations" -- fan.ci.ly adv -- fan.ci.ness n