Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-CEIT', n. [It. concetto; Sp. concepto; Port. conceito; L. conceptus, from concipio, to conceive; con and capio, to take or seize.]

1. Conception; that which is conceived, imagined, or formed in the mind; idea; thought; image. In laughing there ever precedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous, and therefore it is proper to man. – Bacon.
2. Understanding; power or faculty of conceiving; apprehension; as, a man of quick conceit. [Nearly antiquated.] How often did her eyes say to me, that they loved! yet I, not looking for such a matter, had not my conceit open to understand them. – Sidney.
3. Opinion; notion; fancy; imagination; fantastic notion; as, a strange or odd conceit. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. – Prov. xxvi.
4. Pleasant fancy; gayety of imagination. On the way to the gibbet, a freak took him in the head to go off with a conceit. – L'Estrange.
5. A striking thought; affected or unnatural conception. Some to conceit alone their works confine. – Pope.
6. Favorable or self-flattering opinion; a lofty or vain conception of one's own person or accomplishments. By a little study and a great conceit of himself, he has lost his religion. – Bentley. Out of conceit with, not having a favorable opinion of; no longer pleased with; as, a man is out of conceit with his dress. Hence to put one out of conceit with, is to make him indifferent to a thing, or in a degree displeased with it. – Tillotson. Swift.