Definition of conceive

The word "conceive" has a fascinating history! It has its roots in Old French, where it was formed as "concevoir," which means "to take into account" or "to consider." This Old French verb is derived from the Latin "conceptus," which is the past participle of "concipere," meaning "to take in" or "to receive." The meaning of "conceive" gradually shifted over time, from initially meaning "to think of" or "to imagine" to its current sense of "to form an idea of" or "to understand." In the 15th century, the word began to be used in the context of pregnancy, meaning "to become pregnant" or "to bear a child." Today, the word "conceive" has a wide range of meanings, from intellectual or creative ideas to biological reproduction. Despite its evolution, the word still retains a connection to its Latin roots, carrying a sense of "taking in" or "embracing" an idea or concept.