daydreamn.
/ˈdeɪdriːm/, U.S. /ˈdeɪˌdrim/ A series of thoughts or yearnings that distract one's attention (esp. pleasantly) from the present; a reverie. Hence: an idle fantasy or vain hope, typically concerning ambitions of happiness or success (cf. pipe dream n.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > mental image, idea, or fancy > daydream or reverie > [noun]
castle in Spainc1400
reverie1477
brown studyc1555
castle in the skies1576
castle in the air1579
comedown1583
memento1587
towers in the air1599
daydream1651
dream1732
air castle1786
châteaux in air1793
chateau(x) en Espagne1834
cloud-castle1887
pipe dream1890
fantasy1926
1651 W. Davenant Gondibert ii. vii. xlvii. 145 Thus to her self in day-dreams Birtha talks.
1685 J. Dryden tr. Lucretius Against Fear of Death in Sylvæ 75 And when awake, thy Soul but nods at best, Day-Dreams and sickly thoughts revolving in thy breast.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 167. ⁋3 The gay Phantoms that dance before my waking Eyes and compose my Day-Dreams.
1795 S. J. Pratt Gleanings through Wales III. lvi. 2 With respect to Equality,..as the mob are encouraged for reasons they cannot penetrate, to conceive it, was there ever such a day-dream?
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. iv. 61 We will not pursue a lover's day-dream any farther.
1829 I. Taylor Nat. Hist. Enthusiasm ix. 231 The object of day-dream contemplation.
1864 C. Knight Passages Working Life I. i. 122 The realities of life had cured me of many day-dreams.
1922 ‘R. Crompton’ Just—William x. 193 William was left alone. He spend a few moments indulging in roseate day dreams.
1955 L. Edel Psychol. Novel v. 63 With her head on his shoulder, the young hero floats away into a daydream.
1986 D. Chávez Last of Menu Girls (1987) 13 The foamed, concrete turnings of some workman's trowel revealed daydreams.
2008 C. Tsiolkas Slap (2010) 25 What did he want to be instead? A rock and roll star, a jazz muso? They had been teenage daydreams.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
daydreamv.
/ˈdeɪdriːm/, U.S. /ˈdeɪˌdrim/ 1. intransitive. To indulge in or experience daydreams; to distract oneself with pleasant thoughts or fanciful yearnings. Frequently with about, of.
ΚΠ
1830 London & Paris Observer 18 Apr. 243/2 He lay three or four hours upon his bed, day-dreaming, how he should obtain access to her,..and how he should obtain her favour.
1884 Athenæum 6 Dec. 738/1 The girl..who sits day-dreaming in a vignette.
1943 N. Fenton Counselor's Interview with Student 28 What does he daydream about, imagine himself doing?
1956 C. P. Snow Homecomings xxxi. 214 Mrs Beauchamp, day-dreaming of a voyeuse's paradise, seeping herself into invisibility.
2008 J. C. Hayes 747 Things to do on Plane 125 As you patiently sit in your seat waiting to board your delayed connection, take a minute to drift off and daydream.
2. transitive (reflexive). With into, to. To imagine oneself in another place, time period, etc., as part of a daydream.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > mental image, idea, or fancy > daydream or reverie > indulge in daydreams [verb (intransitive)]
dream?c1400
saunterc1475
dump1530
to go (run, be) wool-gathering1553
to gather wool1577
reverie1832
reverize1836
Alnascharize1840
daydream1899
mice1984
1899 Crampton's Mag. Jan. 109 Mr. Jones fell into a retrospective mood, day-dreaming himself back into the past.
1949 ‘M. Innes’ Journeying Boy xiii. 164 There is no doubt, however, that Humphrey can day-dream himself into some rather alarming world of romantic adventure, with nervous consequences that are by no means desirable.
2007 D. Rakel Integrative Med. (ed. 2) iii. xcvii. 1034/1 Patients are..invited to simply daydream themselves to a place of great beauty, safety, or peacefulness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1651v.1830