Definition of conceit

The word "conceit" originates from the Middle English term "conseit," which in turn derives from the Old French word "conseit," meaning "understanding" or "disposition." This word was uses in the 13th century to describe the mental disposition, attitude, or intellectual ability of a person, often in a positive light. However, in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the meaning of "conceit" evolved to connote a fanciful, extravagant, or affected idea or notion, which was sometimes associated with vanity or pride. This new usage arose from the conflation of the term with the verb "conceiten," meaning "to form in the mind" or "to devise," which had a sense of intellectual pretentiousness. This sense of intellectual arrogance became prominent especially during the Elizabethan era, where the term "conceit" came to describe a highly stylized, artificial, and elaborate literary and dramatic device or element, which was a hallmark of the fanciful and imaginative literary style prevalent during the time. In the subsequent centuries, the definition of "conceit" gradually evolved to describe any fanciful or affected notion, idea, or act, which may be admirable, extravagant, or ridiculous, depending on the context of its use. In summary, the word "conceit" derives from the Middle English term "conseit," meaning "understanding" or "disposition," which evolved to connote a fanciful or affected idea, notion, or device during the late medieval and Elizabethan eras. Today, it refers to any intellectual or creative pretentiousness, often associated with vanity, pride, or excessiveness.