[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]