fancy — elaborate, decorative, or luxurious
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: elaborate, decorative, or luxurious
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfænsi/
Example Sentences
- My cat thinks he's too fancy for regular cat food and only eats the expensive stuff.
- I fancy myself as a great chef, but I can barely boil water.
- The fancy hotel charged me extra for using their fancy towels.
fancy
ADJECTIVE[/ˈfænsi/]
elaborate, decorative, or luxurious
Elaborate fancy dress in simple cafe
Fancy Nancy finds her choices chancy!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'fancy' derives from Middle English 'fantasie' (14th century), which comes from Old French 'fantasie', Latin 'phantasia', and ultimately Greek 'phantasia' meaning 'imagination' or 'mental image'. Originally denoting the faculty of imagination, the term gradually expanded in meaning to encompass 'inclination or liking' and 'elaborate or ornamental in appearance'.
Breakdown
Greek phantasia (imagination, appearance) → Latin phantasia → Old French fantasie → Middle English fantasie → Modern English fancy. The shift from 'phantasia' to 'fancy' reflects phonetic simplification typical of Romance language evolution.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat thinks he's too fancy for regular cat food and only eats the expensive stuff.”
“I fancy myself as a great chef, but I can barely boil water.”
“The fancy hotel charged me extra for using their fancy towels.”
“Do you fancy going to the movies tonight?”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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