Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.
\Con*ceit"\, v. i. To form an idea; to think. [Obs.] Those whose . . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes. --Milton.