\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.

\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.

\Con*ceit"\, v. i.
To form an idea; to think. [Obs.]
      Those whose . . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low
      of matrimonial purposes.                 --Milton.