conceit

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 ]

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 ]

a. 1. Endowed with fancy or imagination. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He was . . . pleasantly conceited, and sharp of wit. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Entertaining a flattering opinion of one's self; vain. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you think me too conceited
Or to passion quickly heated. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conceited of their own wit, science, and politeness. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Curiously contrived or designed; fanciful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A conceited chair to sleep in. Evelyn.

Syn. -- Vain; proud; opinionated; egotistical. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In an egotistical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fancifully; whimsically. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being conceited; conceit; vanity. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]