Conceit

/kənˈsiːt/ · noun

Meaning

(obsolete) Something conceived in the mind; an idea, a thought..

Definitions by Sense

1. (obsolete) Something conceived in the mind; an idea, a thought.
2. The faculty of conceiving ideas; mental faculty; apprehension.
3. Quickness of apprehension; active imagination; lively fancy.
4. (obsolete) Opinion, (neutral) judgment.
5. (now rare, dialectal) Esteem, favourable opinion.
6. (countable) A novel or fanciful idea; a whim.
7. (countable, rhetoric, literature) An ingenious expression or metaphorical idea, especially in extended form or used as a literary or rhetorical device.
8. (uncountable) Overly high self-esteem; vain pride; hubris.

Example Sentences

In laughing, there ever procedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous.

a man wise in his own conceit

It was after a night like this that I shocked the community with a queer conceit about the burial of the rich and celebrated Squire Brewster […]

a man of quick conceit

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.

His wit's as thick as Tewksbury mustard; there is no more conceit in him than is in a mallet.

By him that me boughte, than quod Dysdayne, / I wonder sore he is in suche cenceyte.

[G]ive him thy thanks for putting her into conceit with the sex that thou hast given her so much reason to execrate.

Synonyms for conceit

Antonyms for conceit

Related Words

Word Forms

• conceits
• conceipt
• conceiting
• conceited

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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