Im*ag"i*na*ry , n.
(Alg.) An imaginary expression or quantity.
Im*ag"i*na*ry (?), a.
[L. imaginarius: cf. F.
imaginaire.]
Existing only in imagination or fancy; not
real; fancied; visionary; ideal.
Wilt thou add to all the griefs I suffer
Imaginary
ills and fancied
tortures?
Addison. Imaginary calculus
See under Calculus. -- Imaginary expression or quantity (Alg.), an algebraic expression which involves
the impossible operation of taking the square root of a negative
quantity; as,
√-9, a + b √-
1. -- Imaginary points,
lines, surfaces, etc. (Geom.), points, lines,
surfaces, etc., imagined to exist, although by reason of
certain changes of a figure they
have in fact ceased to have a real existence.
Syn. -- Ideal; fanciful; chimerical; visionary; fancied; unreal; illusive.
Hear it pronounced