CONCEIT

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from conceivre Date: 14th century 1. a. a result of mental activity ; thought , individual opinion, favorable opinion, a fancy item or trifle, 3. a fanciful idea, an elaborate or strained metaphor, use or presence of such ~s in poetry, an organizing theme or concept , II. transitive verb Date: 1557 conceive , understand , imagine , to take a fancy to