fancy

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

1. The imagination.
   Rustic females who habitually chew even pitch or spruce-gum are rendered thereby so repulsive that the fancy refuses to pursue the horror farther and imagine it tobacco […] 1861 December, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, “A New Counterblast”, in Atlantic Monthly, page 700
   For a time she could not soothe nor convince him that it was fancy. 1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 221
2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.
3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.
   When you have well viewed the Scenes and Devillish shapes of this Practicall Metamorphosis, and scan’d them in your serious thoughts, you will wonder at their audacious phant’sies, who seeme to hold Specificall deformities, or that any part can seeme unhandsome in their Eyes, which hath appeared good and beautifull unto their Maker […] 1650, John Bulwer, Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d, 2nd edition, London, published 1653, Epistle Dedicatory, pp. 2-3
4. A whim.
   I had a fancy to learn to play the flute.
5. Love or amorous attachment.
   And they’ve taken a fancy to me, Aunt said. Kitto and the others. That means they like me. 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, page 36
   He took a fancy to her.
6. The object of inclination or liking.
7. Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
   Trainspotting is the fancy of a special lot.
   the cat fancy
8. The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
   He fell out of favor with the boxing fancy after the incident.
   […] at a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the Fancy, on a copy occurring, not one of the company but ourself knew what the mystical title-page meant. 1830 September, Thomas De Quincey, “Review of Life of Richard Bentley, D.D. by J.H. Monk, D.D.”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume 28, number 171, p. 446, footnote
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, 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).
    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. 1970, Marta Weigle, Follow my fancy: the book of jacks and jack games, page 22
    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. 2002, Elizabeth Dana Jaffe, Sherry L. Field, Linda D. Labbo, Jacks, page 26

adj

1. Decorative, or featuring decorations, especially intricate or diverse ones.
   This is a fancy shawl.
2. Of a superior grade.
   This box contains bottles of the fancy grade of jelly.
3. Executed with skill.
   He initiated the game-winning play with a fancy deked saucer pass to the winger.
4. (colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.
   I'm not keen on him and his fancy ideas.
5. (obsolete) 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. 1859, Thomas Macaulay, The Life of Frederick the Great

adv

1. (nonstandard) In a fancy manner; fancily.
   I igonored it, hurdling her navel, riding her torso and taking both her breasts in my hands and mashing them none too fancy. 1970, Troy Conway, The Cunning Linguist, London: Flamingo Books, page 131

Etymology 2

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

verb

1. (formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.
   I fancy your new car, but I like my old one just fine.
2. (Britain) would like
   I fancy a burger tonight for dinner.
   Do you fancy going to town this weekend?
3. (Britain, informal) To be sexually attracted to.
   I fancy that girl over there.
4. (dated or in a set phrase) To imagine, suppose.
   [dated] I fancy you'll want something to drink after your long journey.
   I fancy this is an error.
   Fancy meeting you here!
   Fancy that! I saw Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy kissing in the garden.
   You won't get the gig just because you fancy yourself a musician.
   If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
   Appleby […] rose from his seat when Morales came in. He shook hands urbanely, unbuckled his sword, and laid his kepi on the table, and then sat down with an expression of concern in his olive face which Appleby fancied was assumed. 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 22, in The Dust of Conflict
5. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.
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.
   I would recommend this little book very highly to anyone who fancies pigeons, novices and veterans alike. 1973, American Pigeon Journal, page 159