fancier

Pluralfanciers

1. 1
   adjective

   Comparative form of fancy.

   The hotel was far fancier than the photos had suggested.

   His handwriting grew fancier with every flourish he added.

   Note

   Here the -er is the comparative ending added to the adjective fancy, and the y becomes i before it, as in happier. The superlative is fanciest. The comparative can carry any of the adjective's meanings: more decorative, of a higher grade, or more needlessly complicated. Only the spelling connects it to the noun for an enthusiast.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A person who has a special interest in, attraction to, or liking for something.

   A wine fancier, she could name the vintage from a single sip.

   Local fanciers gathered to discuss their shared passion for vintage cars.

   Similaraficionado

   Note

   Built from the verb fancy plus the agent ending -er, a fancier is simply someone who fancies something. The word usually follows the thing liked, forming open compounds such as cat fancier or lily fancier, and aficionado is its closest synonym. A cat fancier may also be a breeder of show animals, so context decides. The spelling is shared by chance with the comparative of fancy, which comes from a different -er.

3. 3
   nouncountable

   A person who breeds an animal or grows a plant for its prized qualities, often to compete in shows.

   As a champion rabbit fancier, she judged at fairs across the county.

   The cat fanciers compared pedigrees before the show began.

   Similarbreeder, grower, exhibitor

4. 4
   nouncountable

   A person who imagines things or supposes them to be so.

   A born fancier, she imagined whole worlds during dull afternoons.

   Dreamers and fanciers filled the room with impossible schemes.

   Similardreamer, fantasist, daydreamer, visionary

   Oppositerealist, pragmatist

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