Search Result for "conceit": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (5)

1. feelings of excessive pride;
[syn: amour propre, conceit, self-love, vanity]

2. an elaborate poetic image or a far-fetched comparison of very dissimilar things;

3. a witty or ingenious turn of phrase;
- Example: "he could always come up with some inspired off-the-wall conceit"

4. an artistic device or effect;
- Example: "the architect's brilliant conceit was to build the house around the tree"

5. the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; false pride;
[syn: conceit, conceitedness, vanity]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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. [1913 Webster] In laughing, there ever procedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous. --Bacon. [1913 Webster] A man wise in his own conceit. --Prov. xxvi. 12. [1913 Webster] 2. Faculty of conceiving ideas; mental faculty; apprehension; as, a man of quick conceit. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 3. Quickness of apprehension; active imagination; lively fancy. [1913 Webster] His wit's as thick as Tewksbury mustard; there's more conceit in him than is in a mallet. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] On his way to the gibbet, a freak took him in the head to go off with a conceit. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster] Some to conceit alone their works confine, And glittering thoughts struck out at every line. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Tasso is full of conceits . . . which are not only below the dignity of heroic verse but contrary to its nature. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 5. An overweening idea of one's self; vanity. [1913 Webster] Plumed with conceit he calls aloud. --Cotton. [1913 Webster] 6. Design; pattern. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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 a coward or a flatterer. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

conceit n 1: feelings of excessive pride [syn: amour propre, conceit, self-love, vanity] 2: an elaborate poetic image or a far-fetched comparison of very dissimilar things 3: a witty or ingenious turn of phrase; "he could always come up with some inspired off-the-wall conceit" 4: an artistic device or effect; "the architect's brilliant conceit was to build the house around the tree" 5: the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; false pride [syn: conceit, conceitedness, vanity] [ant: humbleness, humility]