/ kənˈsiːt; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] ( disapproving ) too much pride in yourself and what you do
2.
[ C ] ( formal ) an artistic effect or device, especially one that is very clever or tries to be very clever but does not succeed :
The ill-advised conceit of the guardian angel dooms the film from the start.
3.
( technical ) a clever expression in writing or speech that involves a comparison between two things
SYN metaphor :
The idea of the wind singing is a romantic conceit.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense notion , also quaintly decorative article ): from conceive , on the pattern of pairs such as deceive , deceit .