The faculty by which the mind forms an image or a representation of anything perceived before; the power of combining and modifying such objects into new pictures or images; the power of readily and happily creating and recalling such objects for the purpose of amusement, wit, or embellishment; imagination.
An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit.
To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof.
To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal).
something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy"
fancy was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than imagination
a predisposition to like something; "he had a fondness for whiskey"
imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind; "I can't see him on horseback!"; "I can see what will happen"; "I can see a risk in this strategy"
a phase of the intellectual faculty of a lighter and less impressive cast than the imagination of the active play of this lighter faculty
Originally a term synonymous with imagination through the use of metaphors or conceits. It was later downgraded by Romantic critics to mean invention of a more superficial nature.