fantasy
UK[ˈfæntəsi]US[ˈfæntəsi]
n
The activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable.
n
A story or type of literature that describes things that happen in an imaginary world.
Morpheme Breakdown
phant
asy
phant
appearance, image
asy
noun-forming suffix
Etymology
The word 'fantasy' traces its lineage to the ancient Greek concept of 'phantasia', which signified the faculty of making mental images visible, a manifestation to the mind. This term, entering English through Latin and Old French, originally denoted a mental image, illusion, or hallucination. Over centuries, its meaning softened and broadened from potentially deceptive appearances to the neutral, creative faculty of imagination. The modern sense, emphasizing imaginative fiction and pleasurable invention, thus evolved from the core idea of bringing inner mental pictures into being.
Analysis
Structure: phant (appearance, image) + asy (noun-forming suffix)
'phant' originates from Greek 'phantazein' (to make visible, show) via Latin 'phantasia', meaning 'appearance, image, perception'. 'asy' is a suffix derived from the Latin '-asia', forming nouns of state or condition.
Examples
The novel is a work of pure fantasy.
He retreated into a world of fantasy to escape his troubles.
Her fantasy was to become a famous singer.