v. Forms: 3–4 conseiue, -saiue, (3 ? -ciue), 3–6 -ceue, 3–7 -ceiue, -ceyue, 4 -sayfe, -saywe, (Sc.) -saf, 4–5 -seyue, -sayue, 4–6 -saue, 5 -cayue, -sawe, 6–7 -ceaue, 7 -ceave, 7– conceive. [a. OF. concev-eir, -oir, (stressed stem concei·v.):—L. concipĕre, f. con- altogether + capĕre to take. The F. form of the word is assimilated to verbs in -ēre, while other Romanic langs. have -ĕre, -īre: cf. Pr. concebre, Sp. concebir, It. concépere and -cepére. Nearly all the senses found in Fr. and Eng. were already developed in L., where the primary notion was app. ‘to take effectively, take to oneself, take in and hold.’ The development is thus partly parallel to that of CATCH (esp. in branches VII, VIII), which word may be substituted for conceive in some uses.]
I. To conceive seed or offspring: with extensions of this sense.
1. trans. Of a female: To receive (seed) in the womb; to become pregnant with (young).
(Cf. CATCH v. 29–32, and quot. under CONCEIT sb. 10.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20822 (Cott.). Þis leuedi … Conceiued thoru þe hali gast Þat blisful child.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xv. 66. Scho was chosen … for to consayfe Ihesu Criste and for to bere him.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 36 b. Suche a woman shall conceyue a man chylde at suche a tyme.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 14. When the seede is conceauyd in at this gate or porte.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 240. That a woman conceiued me, I thanke her: that she brought mee vp, I likewise giue her most humble thankes.
1611. Bible, Heb. xi. 11. Through faith also Sara her selfe receiued strength to conceiue seede.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 766. My womb conceiv’d A growing burden.
1709. Steele & Add., Tatler, No. 90, ¶ 2. She conceived a Child by him.
1880. Muirhead, trans. Gaius, I. § 64. Those [children] whom a woman has conceived in promiscuous intercourse.
b. pass. To be created or formed in the womb; to be engendered. (Sometimes not regarded as the action of the mother, esp. in expressions originating in the Eng. version of the Creed.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24976 (Gött.). I trou … in iesu crist … conseiued of þe hali gast, born of þe uirgine mari.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 446. He was consayved synfully Within his awen moder body.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12758. Agamynon … hade a gay sone, Consayuit of Clunestra.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1759. Þe chyld … wyche was conseyvyd on me be ryht!
1509. Paternoster, etc., A iij. Ihesu cryste his oonly sone … the whiche is conceyued of the holy goost, borne of Mary the mayde.
1607. Topsell, Serpents (1653), 740. The female bringeth forth Egges, which she committeth to the earth … the young ones are conceived of themselves by the help of the Sun.
1860. Hook, Lives Abps., I. ii. 57. He preached the Lord Jesus Christ, who … was conceived by the Holy Ghost.
† c. loosely. To cause to be conceived, to beget.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 439. Whom God hath by his Spirit conceived in the wombe of the Church.
2. intr. To become pregnant.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10898 (Cott.). Womman þat neuer neghed man, Conceiue hu sal sco? Ibid., 10897 (Gött.). Scho has conceyuyd of hir husband.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 72. Ar scho had talde thurght whatkyne chaunce Scho consaywed, and thurgh whame.
1382. Wyclif, Luke i. 31. Thou schalt conseyue in the wombe, and schalt bere a sone.
c. 1460. Emare, 479. The lady … Conceyved and wente with chylde.
1611. Bible, Gen. xxx. 38. And the flockes conceiued before the rods.
1654. R. Codrington, trans. Hist. Ivstine, 241. Laodice … did seem in her sleep to have conceived with child by Apollo.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Conceive, to be with Child, or to breed.
1785. Anat. Dial. (ed. 2), 354. The embryo is a name given to what a woman has conceived with.
1834. Good, Study Med. (ed. 4), II. 551. If she conceive again.
† 3. pass. To be made pregnant; to become or be pregnant, or with child. Obs.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 64 b. Many of them were conceyued with their seed.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 1341/1. The Queene was conceived and quicke with child.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., X. ii. 143. With Marie his wife, after she was conceived by the Holie-ghost.
1594. Marlowe, etc., Dido, I. 106. Till that a princess-priest, Conceiv’d by Mars, Shall yield to dignity a double birth.
1646. E. Fisher, Mod. Divinity (ed. 2), 152. A woman that is conceived with childe must not suffer death because of the childe that is within her.
fig. 1594. Marlowe, etc., Dido, I. 125. Had not the heauens, conceived with hell-born clouds, Veiled his … glory.
4. fig. In the following there is perh. conscious reference to senses 2 and 1 b ‘to be engendered, bred,’ respectively.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 87. This minerall [philosopher’s stone] Transformeth all the firste kinde, And maketh hem able to conceive Through his vertue, and receive … Of golde and silver the nature. Ibid., III. 106. The state of realmes and of kinges In time of pees, in time of werre, It is conceived of the sterre.
† 5. transf. To take on (any state or condition: e.g., fire, moisture, disease, putrefaction, or the like). Sometimes the notion appears to have been ‘catch,’ from without, sometimes ‘breed’ within; but frequently both may have been present. Obs. Cf. CATCH v. 33, 34, 44.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 250. Wherof his lord … A siknesse Conceived hath of dedly sorwe.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, v. 51. The Plant conceiueth moisture in itself, which springeth foorth into bud, from bud into flower, and from flower into fruit.
1621. G. Hakewill, David’s Vow, 119. They are … composed of flax or tinder, apt to conceiue fire.
a. 1656. Hales, Gold. Rem. (1688), 362. Having made a mixture of nitre and sulphur, by chance it conceived fire and went off with incredible celerity and noise.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., VI. 235. Meats of herbs and fruits quickly conceive putrefaction.
1695. trans. Colbatch’s New Lt. Chirurg. put out, 63. Dipping your finger in it [Spirit], and touching it with the Flame of a Candle … it immediately conceives Flame.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 84. The lightest waters most readily conceive igneous motion.
II. To take into, or form in, the mind.
6. To take or admit into the mind; to become affected or possessed with. Still used with permanent states, e.g., prejudice, liking, dislike; with temporary states, as sorrow, joy, obs. or arch. (Cf. CATCH v. 32.)
Sometimes the notion of breed appears to be present.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, vii. 15. He hais consayued sorow.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 19. Lyf in this worlde is so shorte that ther ought none conceyue hate nor wil harme to other.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 307. By the reports that I heere of you, I conceive good hope of your doings.
1596. T. Danett, trans. Comines, 357. The naturall griefe that women vse to conceiue in such cases.
1660. Bp. Hall’s Rem. Wks., Life, 3. Whereat she began to conceive an unspeakable joy.
1754. Sherlock, Disc. (1759), I. iii. 129. The Prejudices which Men are apt to conceive against the Gospel.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. i. 5. He had conceived a dislike … for this lady.
1871. Smiles, Charac., iii. (1876), 68. One of the bigger boys … conceiving a friendship for Martyn.
1890. Dict. Nat. Biog., XXIV. 149. Romney … almost at once conceived for her a passion of the best and purest kind.
† b. To form and entertain (an opinion). Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 358. We wolen seie opinli þe sentence þat we conseyven.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 383. The … singular opinion of godlines they conceived of him.
1586. Thynne, in Holinshed, II. 457/2. The opinion which I conceiue of some of the Scotish writers.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xii. 54. Of whom they have once conceived a good opinion.
7. To form (a purpose, design, etc.) in the mind; to plan, devise, formulate in idea.
1340. Ayenb., 58. Þet hi myȝten his [= them] … uram þe guode þet hi habeþ y-conceyued wyþdraȝe.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XX. 186. The hert … Quhar-in consauit wes that entent.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. lix. 13. Wee conceyueden, and speeken of herte wrdys of lesing.
1534. Tindale, Acts v. 4. How is it that thou hast conceaved this thinge in thyne herte?
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd. (1822), 79. Neither side conceived small matters but put their whole strength to the war.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 318. He first conceives, then perfects his design.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. I. x. 111. Orders were certainly conceived which were to be sent to the archbishop.
b. To form or evolve the idea of (any creation of skill or genius). Cf. CONCEPTION.
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax, Pref. (1814), 6. Draught or plot thereof to be well conceived.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 339, ¶ 9. The Thought of the Golden Compasses [Milton, P. L., VII. 225] is conceived altogether in Homer’s Spirit.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., I. His system, though ill conceived and worse arranged.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 4 The mind which conceived the Republic.
8. To form a mental representation or idea of; to form or have a conception or notion of; to think of, imagine. a. with simple obj.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., 3. Nane swa swete joye may be consayuede.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxiv. 156. Many men trowez noȝt bot þat at þai see … or þat þai may consayue with þaire awen kyndely wittes.
1529. More, Heresyes, I. Wks. 117/2. Wordes … be but ymages representing the things that the writer or speaker conceiueth in his minde.
1592. Davies, Immort. Soul, xxx. So when we God and Angels do conceive, And think of Truth.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., xiii. 71. When we would conceive a material object, our phancies present us with it’s Idæa.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 627. All monstrous, all prodigious things … worse Then Fables yet have feign’d, or fear conceiv’d.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., I. xv. 148. It is easier to conceive than describe the complicated sensations, which are felt from the pain of a recent injury, and the pleasure of approaching revenge.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iv. 66. The deaf-mute seems to conceive general ideas.
1888. Jewish Q. Rev., I. 55. The Rabbis could not conceive such a monstrosity as atheistic orthodoxy.
b. with obj. clause, or inf. complement.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 6857. If he myght right consayve in mynde, How grysely a devel es.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 129. He can not pryse nor conceyue what good thou doost to hymn.
1578. Thynne, Lett., in Animadv. (1865), Introd. 58. I cold not conceve wherefore the same was spooken.
1660. Barrow, Euclid, I. xxxv. Schol., If the side AB … be conceived to be carried along perpendicularly thro’ the whole line BC.
1710. Addison, Whig Exam., 14 Sept., No. 1, in Medleys, 1711, 17. As for the Nile, how Icarus and Phaeton came to be join’d with it, I cannot conceive.
1875. H. Spencer, First Princ., I. iii. § 19. 62. It may be said, ‘though we cannot directly know consciousness to be finite in duration … yet we can very well conceive it to be so.’
c. absol. or intr.
1725. Watts, Logic, III. iv. (1736), 327. This Habit of conceiving clearly, of judging justly, and of reasoning well.
1785. Reid, Int. Powers, I. i. Conceiving, imagining and apprehending are commonly used as synonymous.
d. intr. To conceive of: To form or have a conception of, think of, imagine.
1606. Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat. (1614), 73. Friends … we conceive of them as others from our selves: But children we think of … as … peeces of our own bodies.
1623. Bingham, Xenophon, 49. If any other man … conceiue of a better course, let him speake.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 7. I can better conceive of them with my Mind, then speak of them with my Tongue.
1834. Ht. Martineau, Moral, II. 72. It is scarcely possible to conceive of an arrangement more apt.
1871. Ruskin, Munera P., Pref. (1880), 10. He cannot conceive of any quality of essential badness or goodness existing in pictures.
1881. Mallock, Romance 19th Cent., I. ii. She cannot patiently conceive of you as in relation to anything excepting herself.
9. To grasp with the mind, ‘take in’; to apprehend, understand, comprehend. Cf. CATCH v. 35.
a. a thing. arch.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IX. 48. I haue no kynde knowyng, quod I, to conceyue þi wordes.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 7046. I conceyve youre entent.
1509. Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. 291–2. A redy wytte she had also to conceyue all thynges.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 3. You haue … well conceiued my meaning.
1660. Bp. Hall’s Rem. Wks., Life, 40. The drift whereof, being not well conceived by some spirits.
1755. B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sc., I. II. 121. All this I conceive perfectly well.
† b. with obj. clause. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 145. Whan Richard had conceyued þat Philip þerto stode.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 202. The kyng, conseyvyng weel that the Scottis were evir ontrewe.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. 65. Therefore you easily conceive, that 3 pounds have but three quarters of the Metal.
1808. J. Webster, Nat. Phil., 134. It is conceived that bodies differently electrified will readily approach.
c. To understand, take the meaning of (a person).
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 666/2. I doe now conceave you.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 250. Nay conceiue me, conceiue mee, (sweet Coz).
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Ch. Porch, lxxii. Judge not the preacher … If thou mislike him, thou conceiv’st him not.
1744. Harris, Three Treat., III. I. (1765), 159. Explain your Question, for I do not well Conceive you.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 399. You have quite conceived me.
† d. absol. Obs.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. ii. 124. How comes that (sayes he) that takes vpon him not to conceiue?
1605. Bp. Hall, Medit. & Vows, II. § 15. In the Schoole of nature, we must conceive, and then beleeve: In the Schoole of God, wee must first beleeve, and then wee shall conceive.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 50. P. Doe not approach Till thou do’st heare me call. Ar. Well: I conceiue.
† 10. To perceive (by the senses), observe. Obs. rare. Cf. CATCH v. 35.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1742, Lucrece. Tarquinius … Conseyvede hath hire beute & hyre cheere.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1230. Þe king consayuit his come.
c. 1450. Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1981. Cuthbert consayued his countenance.
11. To take into one’s head, form an opinion, be of opinion; to fancy, imagine, think: also used as a modest way of expressing one’s opinion, or a depreciative way of characterizing the opinion of another. a. with subord. clause (stating what is thought).
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 29. Þei conseyveden þat bi þis shulde Crist fully hele hym.
1455. Duchess Norfolk, in Paston Lett., I. 337. Wherein we conceyve your good will and diligence shal be right expedient.
1587. Lett., in Lansd. MS., 115, Art. 93. Wee conceave here wilbe travayle.
1659. Hammond, On Ps., Pref. Those that conceive that it was a new hymne of Christ’s effusion.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 190. I conceived it might probably be of some use.
1859. Mill, Liberty, v. (1865), 57/1. He ought, I conceive, to be … warned of the danger.
b. with obj. and infin. (or equivalent) complement: To imagine, think (a thing to be so and so).
1641. Hinde, J. Bruen, iv. 14. A speciall cause hereof I conceive to be this.
1647. Sprigge, Anglia Rediv., I. iv. (1854), 23. The army … did not conceive themselves secure.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 141, ¶ 7. He that hopes to be conceived as a wit in female assemblies.
1779. Sheridan, Critic, I. ii. I dare say, now, you conceive half the very civil paragraphs … you see to be written by the parties concerned.
1785. Reid, Intell. Powers, I. i. When we would express our opinion modestly, instead of saying ‘This is my opinion’ or ‘This is my judgment’ … we say ‘I conceive it to be thus.’
1807. Pike, Sources Mississ., I. App. 57. Under whose special protection they conceive themselves to be. Ibid., III. App. 54. I conceived it most proper to comply with the demand.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xviii. 187. The great warrior, who is thus conceived as being absent from England.
† c. with infin. alone, by ellipsis of refl. pron.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 327. He conceived by such helps to have added to his vigorous vivacity.
1708. Swift, Sacram. Test, Wks. 1755, II. I. 137. The dangers he conceives to foresee.
d. with simple obj. (Usually by abbreviation.)
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxv. § 15. What the greatest part of men is commonly prone to conceive.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, I. III. xxxii. To shaken off the bonds of prejudice, Nor dote too much of that we have first conceiven.
1660. T. Willsford, Scales Commerce, 182. Having fortified those best where he conceived most danger of being stormed.
† e. intr. To conceive well, ill, etc., of: to form a good, bad, or other opinion of. Obs.
1576. Fleming, Panop. Epist., 44. In whome … I reposed such hope … and beganne also to conceive of him as well as heart could thinke.
1582. T. Watson, Pass. Cent. Love, Ep. Ded. (Arb.), 26. Of whome long since they had conceiued well.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1637), 174. Neither let any conceive offensively if they are not here remembred.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. xl. (1739), 61. I am the rather induced to conceive charitably of those times.
1679. Penn, Addr. Prot., II. iv. (1692), 122. Those … conceive well of those Moral good things.
III. In various senses, mostly after Latin.
† 12. To take in, comprise, comprehend. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 442. Þis preyere … conceves alle þe gode þat a man shulde aske of God.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1837. A lettre clenly enclosyt þat consaued þees wordes.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. i. 7. God … may alle and conceyueth alle.
1530. Palsgr., 299. Note that the masculyn gender conceyveth the femynine in this tonge lyke as it dothe in the latyn, as … Il paia en maniere de tribut cent thoreaux et cent vaches blancz.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 39. Hereditamentes, which … shalbe conceiued and specified in any … bailiffes accompte.
1571. Digges, Pantom., IV. xxv. Hh j. This solide … conceiueth two internall spheres.
† 13. To institute (an action at law). Obs. [L. concipere actionem.] Obs.
1467. Ord. Worcester, in Eng. Gilds, 382. An accion of dette … to be conceyved after the custom of the seid cite.
1485. Act 1 Hen. VII., c. 1 (Ruffhead). If the same action had been conceived against them.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 40 a. This shall bee tryed in the shire wheare the playntyefe hathe conceyved hys action.
14. To formulate, express in words or other form; to couch. [Cf. L. concipere aliquid verbis.]
1560. in Lodge, Illust. Brit. Hist. (1791), I. 334. Receaving from them the articles wch they said they wolde conceave.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 7. Her oath was for the more assurance conceived into writing.
1614. Selden, Titles Honor, 11. Out of diuers inscriptions conceiued Deae Syriae and Dis Syris.
1709. Strype, Annals, ii. 56. They exhibited their articles conceived in the former session.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. lvii. 403. His answer was conceived in the tone of insult and defiance.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xix. § 1 (1862), 303. The laws … shall be conceived in terms plain, intelligible, and consistent.
† b. (with mixture of 7.) To form and utter spontaneously (a prayer). Obs. (See CONCEIVED 2 b.)
1593. Abp. Bancroft, Daung. Posit., III. v. 8. The moderator … conceiueth another praier.
1614. Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 772. Why is it more Idolatry … to worship God … by a prayer read or got by heart than by a praier conceived?
† 15. To take (an oath). [L. jusjurandum concipere.] Obs.–1
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., I. x. (1602), 49. To appoint meet formes of religious attestations (or Oathes) for such Officers to take and conceiue.
† 16. refl. ? To comport oneself. Obs.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 2204. How hent the gentil knyghtis, How they conceyved heom in fyghtis.
