Etymology of the English word fancy
the English word
fancyderived from the Latin word
phantasia (fancy, imagined situation; mental image; phase)
derived from the Greek word
phantasia, φαντασία ((properly abstract) a (vain) show ('fantasy'))
derived from the Greek word
phantazein, φαντάζω (to make apparent; to appear (neuter participle as noun, a spectacle))
derived from the Greek word
phantosderived from the Late Greek word
phainein, φαίνω (to display; to show)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*bha-derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*bhā-Date
The earliest known usage of fancy in English dates from the 15th century.
Derivations in English
fancied,
fancier,
fanciful,
fancify,
fancywork,
fancyingUsage
Word found in Modern English
