conceit

[kuhn-seet]

noun

1. an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance, wit, etc.

   Synonyms: complacency, egotism, vanity, self-esteem
   Antonyms: humility

2. something that is conceived in the mind; a thought; idea.

   He jotted down the conceits of his idle hours.

3. imagination; fancy.

4. a fancy; whim; fanciful notion.

5. an elaborate, fanciful metaphor, especially of a strained or far-fetched nature.

6. the use of such metaphors as a literary characteristic, especially in poetry.

7. a fancy, purely decorative article.

8. British Dialect.

   1. favorable opinion; esteem.

   2. personal opinion or estimation.

9. Obsolete.,  the faculty of conceiving; apprehension.

verb (used with object)

1. to flatter (especially oneself ).

2. British Dialect.,  to take a fancy to; have a good opinion of.

3. Obsolete.

   1. to imagine.

   2. to conceive; apprehend.

conceit

/ kənˈsiːt /

noun

1. a high, often exaggerated, opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments; vanity

2. literary,  an elaborate image or far-fetched comparison, esp as used by the English Metaphysical poets

3. archaic

   1. a witty expression

   2. fancy; imagination

   3. an idea

4. obsolete,  a small ornament

verb

1. dialect,  to like or be able to bear (something, such as food or drink)

2. obsolete,  to think or imagine

Word History and Origins

Origin of conceit¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English conceyte, conceipt, derivative of conceive by analogy with deceive, deceit and receive, receipt; compare Anglo-French conceite; concept

Word History and Origins

Origin of conceit¹

C14: from _conceive

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of conceit with, displeased or dissatisfied with.

Synonym Study

See pride.

Example Sentences

But some conceits stampede through profoundly repugnant swamplands, sinking into straight-up stereotyping in the process.

Read more on Salon

One of the great conceits of California is its place on the cutting edge — of fashion, culture, technology, politics and other facets of the ways we live and thrive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

However, the film’s phone conceit played well enough and young star Thames was outstanding.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Purely a conceit, though, is any idea that cheeseburger consumption would simultaneously decline.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Robinson and Kanin find a conceit, whether it’s a sight gag or a scenario, and keep escalating the ridiculousness of it well past the standard threshold of appropriateness.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• arrogance