fantasize
UK[ˈfæntəsaɪz]US[ˈfæntəsaɪz]
v
to imagine something that is very pleasant or exciting but is not real or likely to happen
v
to have sexual fantasies about someone or something
Morpheme Breakdown
fantas
ize
fantas
imagination, vision
ize
verb-forming suffix
Etymology
the word 'fantasize' is a modern english formation, directly derived from the noun 'fantasy'. 'fantasy' itself has a long lineage, tracing back to the greek 'phantasia', which meant a making visible, an appearance, or the faculty of imagination. this greek term is rooted in 'phantazein', to make visible, which comes from 'phainein', to show. the core concept evolved from the literal act of showing or making an appearance to the internal mental faculty of creating appearances—the imagination. the suffix '-ize', borrowed from greek via latin and french, is a prolific verb-forming element meaning 'to make, to become, or to practice'. therefore, 'fantasize' logically means 'to make or engage in fantasy', concretizing the abstract process of imaginative creation, often with a connotation of pleasurable or wishful thinking.
Analysis
Structure: fantas (imagination, vision) + ize (verb-forming suffix)
fantas (from greek 'phantasia', meaning appearance, imagination, via latin and old french); ize (verb-forming suffix from greek '-izein', via latin '-izare')
Examples
she would often fantasize about traveling the world.
he fantasized about becoming a famous rock star.
it's harmless to fantasize, but you must also deal with reality.