Visionary, a.
Etymology: [Cf. F. visionnaire.]
1. Of or pertaining to a visions or visions; characterized by, appropriate to, or favorable for, visions. The visionary hour When musing midnight reigns. Thomson.
2. Affected by phantoms; disposed to receive impressions on the imagination; given to reverie; apt to receive, and act upon, fancies as if they were realities. Or lull to rest the visionary maid. Pope.
3. Existing in imagination only; not real; fanciful; imaginary; having no solid foundation; as, visionary prospect; a visionary scheme or project. Swift.
Syn. -- Fanciful; fantastic; unreal. See Fanciful.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Visionary, n.; pl. Visionaries (.
1. One whose imagination is disturbed; one who sees visions or phantoms.
2. One whose imagination overpowers his reason and controls his judgment; an unpractical schemer; one who builds castles in the air; a daydreamer.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for visionary; he lists it under fanciful, vain.
Where he writes about it:
A fanciful theory or suggestion may be clearly recognized as such; a visionary scheme is erroneously supposed to have a basis in fact. — from fanciful