The accurate answer is: Look up the word on an online dictionary.
Looking up for a word on an online and reliable dictionary is the most effective way to find out the different meanings a word can have according to the context in which it is used. The dictionary also provides the many <u>fixed expressions</u> using that word. For example, it is commonly known that the word <em>fancy </em>means<em> "something elaborate in decoration or structure" </em>but when used in<em> "</em><em>s</em>he took a fancy to the beautiful diamond bracelet in the department-store window" the meaning gets a little confusing. Therefore, if you look it up in an online dictionary you find out that there's a fixed expression "to take a fancy on something/someone", meaning "to start liking something or someone very much". Finally, we can be sure of the actual meaning of the sentence.
<u>Regarding the rest of the options:</u>
- Use context to guess what a girl would think about a diamond bracelet for sale in a department window.
While this option could help you in identifying the meaning of the word since context is always a key factor, a simple guessing won't verify the actual meaning of the word.
- Conduct a search on an online video sharing website.
This could help you but, once again, you need a dictionary to verify whether what is posted on the online video sharing website is reliable.
- Look up the word on Wikipedia.
Wikipedia is not a 100% reliable source since everyone can provide and edit information on this website.
- Try to think of other words that sound like “fancy.”
The sound of the word "fancy" won't provide you its meaning, so it would be helpless to think of other words with a similar sound.
Okay I'll give you the excerpts I think you refer to (lines in brackets are options):
<span><span>1. Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice! Only think of that, my dear; <span>(he actually danced with her twice! and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her!</span>)
</span><span>2. "His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. <span>(One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.")</span>
<span>("That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."</span>)
</span><span>3. "Well,"
said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she were
married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of
happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. <span>(Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.
If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other
or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in
the least.)</span> -- (<span>They
always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their
share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the
defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.<span>")
</span></span></span></span>
I think the answers are all the options of excerpts 1. & 2.
Please discuss in comments
