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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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