Fantastic
/fænˈtæs.tɪk/noun
Extraordinarily good, impressive, or imaginative; also unreal or existing only in the imagination.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek *phantazein*, “to make visible” or “to present to the mind,” the same ancient root behind *phantom*, so *fantastic* began life in the territory of appearances, visions, and things that seem to materialize.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂-
“to shine, appear”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phainein
“to bring to light, make appear”
Late Greek
Greek
phantastikos
“able to present to the mind; imaginative, visionary”
Late Latin
Latin
phantasticus
“imaginary, extravagant”
Middle French
Old French
fantastique
“imaginary, unreal, bizarre”
16th Century
English
fantastik
“imaginary, capricious, fanciful”
Modern English
English
fantastic
“excellent; imaginative; unreal or bizarre”
Explore more surprising origins