Conceit to Concern
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; 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 of conceit
with, to make one indifferent to a thing, or in a degree displeased with it.
Conceit
(Con*ceit") v. t. 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. To form an idea; to think. [Obs.]
Those whose . . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes.
Milton.
Conceited
(Con*ceit"ed), a.
1. Endowed with fancy or imagination. [Obs.]
He was . . . pleasantly conceited, and sharp of wit.
Knolles.