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 conceit with, to make one indifferent to a thing, or in a degree displeased with it.
© Webster 1913.
Con*ceit" (?), v. t. To conceive; to imagine. [Archaic]
The strong, by conceiting themselves weak, are therebly rendered as inactive . . . as if they really were so.
South.
One of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Con*ceit", v. i. To form an idea; to think. [Obs.]
Those whose . . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes.
Milton.
© Webster 1913. | 
