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, [root]-9, a + b [root]-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.

 

© Webster 1913.


Im*ag"i*na*ry, n. Alg.

An imaginary expression or quantity.

 

© Webster 1913.

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