conceit

conceit
I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from conceivre Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) a result of mental activity ; thought (2) individual opinion b. favorable opinion; especially excessive appreciation of one's own worth or virtue 2. a fancy item or trifle 3. a. a fanciful idea b. an elaborate or strained metaphor c. use or presence of such conceits in poetry d. an organizing theme or concept <
found his conceit for the film early — Peter Wilkinson
>
II. transitive verb Date: 1557 1. obsolete conceive, understand 2. chiefly dialect imagine 3. dialect British to take a fancy to

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Conceit — Con*ceit , n. [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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • conceit — 1 Conceit, egotism, egoism, self esteem, self love, amour propre mean an attitude of regarding oneself with favor. Conceit implies a conviction of superiority in one or more lines of achievement or an overweeningly favorable opinion of one s… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Conceit — Con*ceit , v. t. To conceive; to imagine. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] The strong, by conceiting themselves weak, are therebly rendered as inactive . . . as if they really were so. South. [1913 Webster] One of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Conceit — Con*ceit , v. i. To form an idea; to think. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Those whose . . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • conceit — (n.) late 14c., something formed in the mind, thought, notion, from conceiven (see CONCEIVE (Cf. conceive)) based on analogy of deceit and receipt. Sense evolved from something formed in the mind, to fanciful or witty notion (1510s), to vanity (c …   Etymology dictionary

  • conceit — index idea, jactation Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • conceit — [n] egotism amour propre, arrogance, complacence, complacency, consequence, immodesty, narcissism, outrecuidance, pomposity, pride, self admiration, self exaltation, selfimportance, self love, self regard, smugness, snottiness, stuffiness,… …   New thesaurus

  • conceit — ► NOUN 1) excessive pride in oneself. 2) an elaborate metaphor or artistic effect. 3) a fanciful notion. ORIGIN from CONCEIVE(Cf. ↑conceive) …   English terms dictionary

  • conceit — [kən sēt′] n. [ME conceite < conceiven,CONCEIVE] 1. Obs. a) an idea; thought; concept b) personal opinion 2. an exaggerated opinion of oneself, one s merits, etc.; vanity 3. [< It concetto, of same ult. orig.] …   English World dictionary

  • Conceit — For other uses, see Conceit (disambiguation). In literature, a conceit[1] is an extended metaphor with a complex logic that governs a poetic passage or entire poem. By juxtaposing, usurping and manipulating images and ideas in surprising ways, a… …   Wikipedia

  • conceit — [[t]kənsi͟ːt[/t]] conceits 1) N UNCOUNT: also a N (disapproval) Conceit is very great pride in your abilities or achievements that other people feel is too great. He knew, without conceit, he was considered a genius... Pamela knew she was a good… …   English dictionary

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