different between fancy vs posh
fancy
English
Alternative forms
- fant’sy, phancie, phancy, phansie, phansy, phant’sy (all obsolete)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fæn.si/
- Rhymes: -ænsi
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 ???????? (phantasía), from ??????? (phantáz?, “to render visible”), from ?????? (phantós, “visible”), from ????? (phaín?, “to make visible”); from the same root as ??? (phôs, “light”). Doublet of fantasia, fantasy, phantasia, and phantasy.
Noun
fancy (plural fancies)
- The imagination.
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 5, lines 100-103,[1]
- […] But know that in the soul
- Are many lesser faculties, that serve
- Reason as chief; among these Fancy next
- Her office holds […]
- 1842, Alfred Tennyson, Locksley Hall
- In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish’d dove; / In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.
- 1861, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, “A New Counterblast” in Atlantic Monthly, December 1861, p. 700,[2]
- 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 […]
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 5, lines 100-103,[1]
- An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.
- Synonyms: conception, thought, idea
- c. 1605, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act III, Scene 2,[3]
- How now, my lord! why do you keep alone,
- Of sorriest fancies your companions making,
- Using those thoughts which should indeed have died
- With them they think on?
- An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.
- Synonym: impression
- 1650, John Bulwer, Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d, 2nd edition, London, 1653, Epistle Dedicatory, pp. 2-3,[4]
- 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 […]
- 1693, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education, 13th edition, London, 1764, §148, p. 222, [5]
- I have always had a Fancy, that Learning might be made a Play and Recreation to Children […]
- A whim.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:whim
- Love or amorous attachment.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:predilection
- The object of inclination or liking.
- c. 1595, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act I, Scene 1,[7]
- For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself
- To fit your fancies to your father’s will;
- c. 1595, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act I, Scene 1,[7]
- Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
- Synonyms: hobby; see also Thesaurus:hobby
- The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:fan
- 1830, Thomas De Quincey, “Review of Life of Richard Bentley, D.D. by J.H. Monk, D.D.” in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 28, No. 171, September 1830, p. 446, footnote,[8]
- […] 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.
- A diamond with a distinctive colour.
- 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,[9]
- London-pride is a pretty fancy, and does well for borders.
- 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,[9]
- A bite-sized sponge cake, with a layer of cream, covered in icing.
- a French fancy; a fondant fancy; cream fancies
- (obsolete) A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad.
- c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2, Act III, Scene 2,[10]
- [He] sung those tunes to the overscutch’d huswifes that he heard the carmen whistle, and sware they were his fancies or his good-nights.
- c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2, Act III, Scene 2,[10]
- In the game of jacks, a style of play involving additional actions (contrasted with plainsies).
- 1970, Marta Weigle, Follow my fancy: the book of jacks and jack games (page 22)
- 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.
- 2002, Elizabeth Dana Jaffe, Sherry L. Field, Linda D. Labbo, Jacks (page 26)
- 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.
- 1970, Marta Weigle, Follow my fancy: the book of jacks and jack games (page 22)
Derived terms
Translations
Adjective
fancy (comparative fancier, superlative fanciest)
- Decorative.
- Synonyms: decorative, ornate
- Antonyms: plain, simple
- Of a superior grade.
- Synonym: high-end
- Executed with skill.
- (colloquial) Unnecessarily complicated.
- Synonym: highfalutin
- Antonym: simple
- (obsolete) Extravagant; above real value.
Derived terms
- fancy man
Translations
Descendants
- ? German: fancy
- ? Norwegian Bokmål: fancy
- ? Norwegian Nynorsk: fancy
Adverb
fancy (not comparable)
- (nonstandard) In a fancy manner; fancily.
Etymology 2
From Middle English fancien, fantasien, fantesien, from Old French fantasier, from the noun (see above)).
Verb
fancy (third-person singular simple present fancies, present participle fancying, simple past and past participle fancied)
- (formal) To appreciate without jealousy or greed.
- (Britain) would like
- Synonym: feel like
- (Britain, informal) To be sexually attracted to.
- Synonym: (US) like
- (dated) To imagine, suppose.
- If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know.
- 1857-1859, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Virginians
- He fancied he was welcome, because those around him were his kinsmen.
- 1895, H. G. Wells, The Time Machine Chapter X
- I fancied at first the stuff was paraffin wax, and smashed the jar accordingly. But the odor of camphor was unmistakable.
- To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.
- Synonym: imagine
- he whom I fancy, but can ne'er express
- To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
- (transitive) To breed (animals) as a hobby.
- 1973, American Pigeon Journal (page 159)
- I would recommend this little book very highly to anyone who fancies pigeons, novices and veterans alike.
- 1973, American Pigeon Journal (page 159)
Derived terms
- fancy man
- fancy one's chances
- fancy that
Translations
See also
- fantasy
- fancy man
- fancypants
- fancy woman
References
Further reading
- Fancy in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
German
Etymology
Borrowed from English fancy. Doublet of Fantasie.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fænsi/
Adjective
fancy (not comparable)
- (colloquial, fashion) fancy
Declension
Further reading
- “fancy” in Duden online
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
Borrowed from English fancy.
Adjective
fancy (indeclinable)
- fancy
References
- “fancy” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
Borrowed from English fancy.
Adjective
fancy (indeclinable)
- fancy
References
- “fancy” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
fancy From the web:
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posh
English
Etymology
Unknown.
Most likely derived from Romani posh (“half”), either because posh-kooroona (“half a crown”) (originally a substantial sum of money) was used metaphorically for anything pricey or upper-class, or because posh-houri (“half-penny”) became a general term for money.
A period slang dictionary defines "posh" as a term used by thieves for "money : generic, but specifically, a halfpenny or other small coin". An example is given from Page's Eavesdropper (1888): "They used such funny terms: 'brads,' and 'dibbs,' and 'mopusses,' and 'posh' ... at last it was borne in upon me that they were talking about money."
Evidence exists for a slang sense from the 1890s meaning dandy, which is quite possibly related.
A popular folk etymology holds that the term is an acronym for "port out, starboard home", describing the cooler, north-facing cabins taken by the most aristocratic or rich passengers travelling from Britain to India and back. However, there is no evidence for this claim.
See also the articles mentioned in the References section below for additional discussion.
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /p??/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /p??/, IPA(key): /p???/ (humorous or upper-class)
- Rhymes: -??
Adjective
posh (comparative posher or more posh, superlative poshest or most posh)
- Associated with the upper classes.
- Stylish, elegant, exclusive (expensive).
- (usually offensive, especially in Scotland and Northern England) Snobbish, materialistic, prejudiced, under the illusion that one is better than everyone else.
Quotations
- 1919: "Well, it ain't one of the classic events. It were run over there." Docker jerked a thumb vaguely in the direction of France. "At a 'Concours Hippique,' which is posh for 'Race Meeting.' — Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 156, June 18, 1919
Derived terms
- posh wank
- poshen
- poshdom
- poshful
- poshly
- poshness
- posho
- poshy
Translations
Interjection
posh!
- An exclamation expressing derision.
- 1889: "The czar! Posh! I slap my fingers--I snap my fingers at him." — Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Was
Noun
posh (uncountable)
- fragments produced by an impact
- slush
Verb
posh (third-person singular simple present poshes, present participle poshing, simple past and past participle poshed)
- (normally in the phrasal verb posh up) To make posh, or posher.
- Synonym: poshen
References
- posh at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams
- Hosp., OHPs, PHOs, Soph, hops, hosp, phos, shop, soph
Maricopa
Noun
posh
- cat
Romani
Alternative forms
- push
Etymology
From Old Armenian ???? (p?oši). Doublet of poshík.
Noun
posh
- dust
References
- A?a?ean, Hra??eay (1979) , “????”, in Hayer?n armatakan ba?aran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), volume IV, 2nd edition, reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press, page 517a
- Vaillant, Jean-Alexandre (1868) , “pos'”, in Grammaire, dialogues et vocabulaire de la langue des Bohémiens ou Cigains (in French), Paris: Maisonneuve, page 123a
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