In the soul Are many lesser faculties, that serve
Reason as chief. Among these fancy next Her office
holds. --Milton.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice
without much use or value.
London pride is a pretty fancy for borders.
--Mortimer.
6. A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.]
--Shak.
{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.
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}.
If our search has reached no farther than simile and
metaphor, we rather fancy than know. --Locke.
He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express. --Dryden.
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.
3. To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine
(something which is unreal).
He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him
were his kinsmen. --Thackeray.
2. 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} (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.