The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
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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. 1 -
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. -
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. -
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. -
An overweening idea of one's self; vanity.
Plumed with conceit he calls aloud.
--Cotton. -
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.