Category:Conceit

Con*ceit", n. Etym: [Through French, fr. L. conceptus a conceiving, conception, fr. concipere to conceive: cf. OF. p. p. nom. conciez conceived. See Conceive, and cf. Concept, Deceit.]

1. That which is conceived, imagined, or formed in the mind; idea; thought; image; conception. In laughing, there ever procedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous. Bacon. A man wise in his own conceit. Prov. xxvi. 12.

2. Faculty of conceiving ideas; mental faculty; apprehension; as, a man of quick conceit. [Obs.] How often, alas! did her eyes say unto me that they loved! and yet I, not looking for such a matter, had not my conceit open to understand them. Sir P. Sidney.

3. Quickness of apprehension; active imagination; lively fancy. His wit's as thick as Tewksbury mustard; there's more conceit in him than is in a mallet. Shak.

4. A fanciful, odd, or extravagant notion; a quant fancy; an unnatural or affected conception; a witty thought or turn of expression; a fanciful device; a whim; a quip. On his way to the gibbet, a freak took him in the head to go off with a conceit. L'Estrange. Some to conceit alone their works confine, And glittering thoughts struck out at every line. Pope. Tasso is full of conceits. . . which are not only below the dignity of heroic verse but contrary to its nature. Dryden.

5. An overweening idea of one's self; vanity. Plumed with conceit he calls aloud. Cotton.

6. Design; pattern. [Obs.] Shak. In conceit with, in accord with; agreeing or conforming. -- Out of conceit with, not having a favorable opinion of; not pleased with; as, a man is out of conceit with his dress. -- To put [one] out conceit with, to make one indifferent to a thing, or in a degree displeased with it.

conceit Con*ceit", v. t.

Defn: To conceive; to imagine. [Archaic] The strong, by conceiting themselves weak, are therebly rendered as inactive. . . as if they really were so. South. One of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a flatterer. Shak.

conceit Con*ceit", v. i.

Defn: To form an idea; to think. [Obs.] Those whose. . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes. Milton.