imagination Copy link Outline I. The faculty1. nearest word, cōgĭtātio (with something in the context to define the kind of mental operation2. *phantăsia (without class. authority, but needed as special term)II. That which is conceived • imagination: I. The faculty: 1. nearest word, cōgĭtātio (with something in the context to define the kind of mental operation: v. Nägels. Stil. p. 29): form in your i. a picture of this my condition, fingite cogitatione imaginem hujus conditionis meae, Cic. Mil. 29, 79: to form an idea of anything by the i., cogitatione aliquid depingere, Cic. N. D. 1, 15, 39: let that man rise for a moment before your i., exsistat ille vir parumper c. vestra [quoniam re non potest]., Cic. Bal. 20, 47: Quint. 2. *phantăsia (without class. authority, but needed as special term): fire of i., phantasiae incitatio et calor, Eichst. in Kr.: to be carried away by one's i., phantasiae vi abripi, id. Sometimes the pl. may serve: he charms us by his play of i., *venustissimis suis phantasiis delectat nos (in this sense, the word is nearer its class. use: v. Lat. Dict. s. v.). Phr.: to be so devoid of i., tam procul a concipiendis imaginibus rerum abesse, Quint. 8, 3, 65: the whole scene is presented to the i., tota rerum imago exprimitur et oculis mentis ostenditur, cf. Quint. 8, 3, 63. (N.B.--Not imaginatio, which is used in very diff. sense: v. Lat. Dict. s. v.) II. That which is conceived: ĭmāgo: v. supr. fin. See also idea (II.), conception.
IMAGINATION Copy link • IMAGINATIONcogitatio; but the post-classical imaginatio (Plin., Tac.) or vis imaginandi may be necessary in a philosophical treatise; Krebs, Weber, Uebungsch., p. 264. A mere imagination, species inanis: a creature of the imagination, species or forma menti objecta. To exist in imagination only, in opinione esse (opinatus in past participle is classical). Contrivance, device, Vid.