Middle English Dictionary Entry
fantastīk adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fantastīk adj. |
| Etymology | L fantastic-us OF fantastique. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of or pert. to the mental 'faculty' of fantasie; (b) produced by exercise of this faculty.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1376 : Engendred of humour malencolyk Biforn his celle fantastyk.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)23b/a : In þe formest chambre it ordeyneþ þe fantastik ymaginacioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)25a/a : Þe spirit takeþ a liknes and turneþ to his selle fantastik & presentiþ þat liknes to þe soule.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)26/18 : Forto so make and feyne, semyþ to be þe wirchyng of a notable power of þe soul..which þridde power is þe fantastik witt.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)30/21 : Summe men wolen holde þat þe fantastik witt is in þe same cellis placid with comoun witt and with ymginacioun.
b
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.6/12 : A fantastykke illusyoun that ofte happyth to men yn ther slepe.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)2195 : Lydgate..Hys bokys endytyd..with conseytys off poetry And craffty imagynacionys off thingys fantastyk.
2.
(a) Not real, imagined; unfounded or false (views); (b) supernatural or unnatural.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135a/b : Passionz of þe erez..fantastic sownez reynie clarionyng or hissyng & tynnyng.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)157/3 : Manye oþire fantastik fyndingis and feynyngis ben rennyng vpon þese tablis.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.279 : Of Merlyn his fantastik [Higd.(2): fantasticalle; L fantastica] getynge.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.63 : Kyng Arthures body [was founden] þat was i-counted as it were fantastik.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.57ra (2.7) : It [the brain] is distincte, i. diuisede, in 3 plies..callede 3 celles by cause of 3 diuerse maner of operacioun, i. of wirking..Þe firste of þe 3 celles is callede by þise 3 names: fantastica, ymaginatiua, and visualis (anglice: þe fantastik, ymaginatif, and þe place of mannes sight).
Note: ?New sense, or ?modify sense 1.(a). Editor's gloss: fantastik, adj. as n. 'the first cell of the brain, the site of the mental faculty of fantasy'.