Forms: see prec. [f. CONCEIT sb.]
† 1. trans. To take into the mind, apprehend, form a conception or notion of (some objective fact). Obs. Cf. CONCEIVE 8, 9.
1557. Earl Shrewsbury, in Lodge, Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791), I. 285. The Scotts begyne allredye to conceyte a brute of an armye.
1589. Greene, Menaph. (Arb.), 24. Thou … conceiptist the Astronomicall motions of the heavens. Ibid. (1593), Vision, Wks. (1882), XII. 197. Yet I could not but conceit it hardly, and so in a discontented humor I sat me down vpon my bed-side.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, I. lx. And to the king the whole discourse relate: who not conceipting it as it was told [etc.].
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. iii. 162. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You haue right well conceited.
1603. Marston, Ant. & Mel., Induct. A part … which I have neither able apprehension to conceipt, nor what I conceipt gratious abilitie to utter.
2. To imagine, fancy, think. Cf. CONCEIVE 11.
1600. Heywood, 2nd Pt. Edw. IV., Wks. 1874, I. 151. How can ye once conceit so base a thing?
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Faith, ii. I did conceit a most delicious feast.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 556/1. Body is understood by conceiting a certain vast heap of Magnitude.
1847. De Quincey, Conversation, Wks. XIV. 167. Whatever France may conceit of herself.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., ‘Mother … think I shall ’ave ’em [measles]? Dunda yo’ go to consait ’em; think nuthin’ about it.’
b. with obj. and infin. complement. Now only in to conceit oneself (to be) something.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. i. 192. One of two bad wayes you must conceit me, Either a coward, or a Flatterer.
1626. R. Bernard, Isle of Man (1627), 141. He having conceited himselfe to be free.
1658. W. Burton, Itin. Anton., 188. Antiquity conceited this sea most dangerous.
1695. Tryon, Dreams & Vis., vi. 85. Things which they conceit to be Innocent and Indiferent.
1728. Pope, Dunc., III. 184, note. Let not this name … be conceited to mean the learned Olaus Wormius.
1816. Southey, in Q. Rev., 337. Alfieri began to conceit himself already a poet.
1878. Seeley, Stein, III. 565. Conceiting himself to be made of better clay than other men.
c. with obj. clause. Now chiefly dial.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, 4 b.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 1. If any man conceit that this is the lot and portion of the meane sort onely.
1642. Perkins, Prof. Bk., i. § 37. 17. I conceit such grant is good.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 141. I conceited he should not kill me.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), I. 322. Arts of sorcery which they conceit that he learned in Egypt.
1823. De Quincey, King of Hayti, Wks. XII. 68. Never conceit that I shall lend any the more countenance … to your connection.
[1876. Whitby Gloss., ‘I consate you’ll be frae Lunnun.’
1877. in Holderness Gloss.
1878. Cumbrld. Gloss., ‘I consate you’re a stranger here-away.’
1831. Leicestersh. Word-bk., ‘Ah consate it war,’ i. e. I think it was.]
† 3. intr. To form a conception, think, conceive. Const. of (on), subord. clause. ? Obs.
1599. Warn. Faire Wom., I. 581. You shall do me wrong If otherwise you do conceit of me.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 166. The Italians conceiting marueilous highly of themselues.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 149. One, that so imperfectly conceits [Qq. conjects].
1614. T. Adams, Devil’s Banquet, 308. So Hierome conceiteth on those words.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. x. (1743), 256. The sword of St. Paul, not the dagger of William Walworth, as some have conceited.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. II. viii. 126. The Laurel was … that with which, they conceited, he crowned his head.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xvi. Another strain of minstrelsy, and, as the Bonnet-maker conceited, one which approached much nearer.
4. trans. To fill or inspire with a conceit or fancy.
1587. Greene, Euphues, Wks. (1882), VI. 233. Whose dreames were but sweete slumbers conceipted by imagination of the beauty of his Polixena. Ibid. (1590), Orl. Fur., Wks. (1861), 96. To plague the Palatine with jealousy, And to conceit him with some deep extreme.
1876. Blackie, Songs Relig. & L., 227. Pert witlings fling crude fancies round As wanton whim conceits them.
b. refl. (cf. self-conceit).
1809. J. Black, trans. Schlegel’s Lect. Dram. Art & Lit., iii. (1876), 50. Conceiting themselves that they have far surpassed the ancients.
1829. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1853), 21. We … conceit ourselves that we contemplate absolute existence.
1873. F. Hall, Mod. Eng., 18. As little reason have we to conceit ourselves that our progeny will be satisfied with our English, as the subjects of the Heptarchy would have had for conceiting themselves that their Saxon would supply the necessities of us their descendants.
5. To have a good conceit of, to take a fancy to, ‘fancy.’ Now dial.
1589. Greene, Tullies Love, Wks. 1882, VII. 154. [Lentulus] both conceited the methode, and allowed of the manner.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. xliv. (1612), 209. Yea that conceit such Poemes as more learned not conceaue, Reade not the rest.
1706. De Foe, Jure Div., Introd. 2. The strong unbounded Lust of Sov’reign Rule, Makes him conceit the Prince, forget the Fool.
1786. Mrs. Bennett, Juv. Indiscr., iii. 107. I should never conceit a dress that had not afforded the poor devils a few yards for themselves.
1830. Lamb, Pawnbroker’s D., in Blackw. Mag., XXVII. 97. That gentlewoman might conceit a favourite chemise that had descended to her.
1832. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. V. (1863), 365. I shall never conceit the sight of a perch again.
1876. Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., ‘I can’t consate that man’s face, somehow.’
† 6. To conceive as a purpose or design; = CONCEIVE 7. Obs.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 139. Othoman … began now … to conceit greater matters, for the further increase of his honor.
1614. Cornwallis, in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 166. What I had conceited to speak in Parliament.
1638. Heywood, Wise Wom., II. i. Wks. 1874, V. 297. I have conceited, to have Luce married to this blunt Gentleman.
† 7. To conceive (hope, a liking, etc.); = CONCEIVE 6. Obs.
a. 1641. Secr. Mem. Earl of Leicester (1706), 175. I conceited hope that he might … become in time an honorable … neighbour.
Hence Conceiting vbl. sb.
1641. Milton, Ch. Discipl., I. From her perverse conceiting of God and holy things, she had fallen to believe no God at all.
1644. Digby, Nat. Bodies, i. (1658), 3. Our unwary conceiting that things are in their own natures after the same fashion as we consider them in our understanding.
