fancied
UK: ˈfænsid | US: ˈfænsid
adj. imagined or believed, often unrealistically
vt. (past tense of "fancy") liked or desired something
The word "fancied" derives from the verb "fancy," which originated in Middle English as "fantasyen," meaning "to imagine." The root "fanc" traces back to Old French "fantaisie" (imagination) and ultimately Latin "phantasia" (idea, apparition), from Greek "phantazein" (to make visible). The suffix "-ied" marks the past tense, forming "fancied" to describe something imagined or desired in the past. The evolution reflects a shift from abstract imagination ("fantasy") to personal preference ("to fancy").
She fancied herself a great artist, though she had never painted before.
He fancied the idea of traveling the world alone.
They fancied a cup of tea after the long walk.
The child fancied that the shadows were monsters.
No one fancied the old, dusty books on the shelf.