imagine

—imaginer, n.

/i maj"in/, v., imagined, imagining.

v.t.

1. to form a mental image of (something not actually present to the senses).

2. to think, believe, or fancy: He imagined the house was haunted.

3. to assume; suppose: I imagine they'll be here soon.

4. to conjecture; guess: I cannot imagine what you mean.

5. Archaic. to plan, scheme, or plot.

v.i.

6. to form mental images of things not present to the senses; use the imagination.

7. to suppose; think; conjecture.

[1300-50; ME imaginen < MF imaginer < L imaginari, equiv. to imagin- (s. of imago) IMAGE + -a- thematic vowel + -ri inf. ending]

Syn. 1. image, picture. IMAGINE, CONCEIVE, CONCEIVE OF, REALIZE refer to bringing something before the mind. To IMAGINE is, literally, to form a mental image of something: to imagine yourself in London. To CONCEIVE is to form something by using one's imagination: How has the author conceived the first act of his play? To CONCEIVE OF is to comprehend through the intellect something not perceived through the senses: Wilson conceived of a world free from war. To REALIZE is to make an imagined thing real or concrete to oneself, to grasp fully its implications: to realize the extent of one's folly.

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