Part 5560

<syn>Syn. -- Conception; idea; conceit; fancy; device; origination; invention; scheme; design; purpose; contrivance.</syn> -- <usage><er>Imagination</er>, <er>Fancy</er>. These words have, to a great extent, been interchanged by our best writers, and considered as strictly synonymous. A distinction, however, is now made between them which more fully exhibits their nature. Properly speaking, they are different exercises of the same general power -- the plastic or creative faculty. <i>Imagination</i> consists in taking parts of our conceptions and combining them into new forms and images more select, more striking, more delightful, more terrible, etc., than those of ordinary nature. It is the higher exercise of the two. It creates by laws more closely connected with the reason; it has <i>strong emotion</i> as its actuating and formative cause; it aims at results of a definite and weighty character. Milton's fiery lake, the debates of his Pandemonium, the exquisite scenes of his Paradise, are all products of the imagination. <i>Fancy</i> moves on a lighter wing; it is governed by laws of association which are more remote, and sometimes arbitrary or capricious. Hence the term <i>fanciful</i>, which exhibits fancy in its wilder flights. It has for its actuating spirit feelings of a lively, gay, and versatile character; it seeks to please by unexpected combinations of thought, startling contrasts, flashes of brilliant imagery, etc. Pope's Rape of the Lock is an exhibition of fancy which has scarcely its equal in the literature of any country. -- "This, for instance, Wordworth did in respect of the words \'bfimagination' and \'bffancy.' Before he wrote, it was, I suppose, obscurely felt by most that in \'bfimagination' there was more of the earnest, in \'bffancy' of the play of the spirit; that the first was a loftier faculty and gift than the second; yet for all this words were continually, and not without loss, confounded. He first, in the preface to his Lyrical Ballads, rendered it henceforth impossible that any one, who had read and mastered what he has written on the two words, should remain unconscious any longer of the important difference between them." <i>Trench</i>.</usage>

<blockquote>The same power, which we should call <b>fancy</b> if employed on a production of a light nature, would be dignified with the title of <b>imagination</b> if shown on a grander scale. <i>C. J. Smith.</i></blockquote>

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<h1>Imaginational</h1> <Xpage=730>

<hw>Im*ag`i*na"tion*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Pertaining to, involving, or caused by, imagination.</def>

<h1>Imaginationalism</h1> <Xpage=730>

<hw>Im*ag`i*na"tion*al*ism</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Idealism.</def>

<i>J. Grote.</i>

<h1>Imaginative</h1> <Xpage=730>

<hw>Im*ag"i*na*tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>imaginatif</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Proceeding from, and characterized by, the imagination, generally in the highest sense of the word.</def>

<blockquote>In all the higher departments of <b>imaginative</b> art, nature still constitues an important element. <i>Mure.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Given to imagining; full of images, fancies, etc.; having a quick imagination; conceptive; creative.</def>

<blockquote>Milton had a highly <b>imaginative</b>, Cowley a very fanciful mind. <i>Coleridge.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Unreasonably suspicious; jealous.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

-- <wordforms><wf>Im*ag"i*na*tive*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>Im*ag"i*na*tive*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Imagine</h1> <Xpage=730>

<hw>Im*ag"ine</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Imagined</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Imagining</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[F. <ets>imaginer</ets>, L. <ets>imaginari</ets>, p.p. <ets>imaginatus</ets>, fr. <ets>imago</ets> image. See <er>Image</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To form in the mind a notion or idea of; to form a mental image of; to conceive; to produce by the imagination.</def>

<blockquote>In the night, <b>imagining</b> some fear, How easy is a bush supposed a bear! <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To contrive in purpose; to scheme; to devise; to compass; to purpose. See <er>Compass</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>, 5.</def>

<blockquote>How long will ye <b>imagine</b> mischief against a man? <i>Ps. lxii. 3.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To represent to one's self; to think; to believe.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- To fancy; conceive; apprehend; think; believe; suppose; opine; deem; plan; scheme; devise.</syn>

<h1>Imagine</h1> <Xpage=730>

<hw>Im*ag"ine</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To form images or conceptions; to conceive; to devise.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To think; to suppose.</def>

<blockquote>My sister is not so defenseless left As you <b>imagine</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>