See Also: conceive(dictionary)
conceive(dictionary)

conceive (iou)



conceive verb. ME.
[Old & mod. French conceiv- tonic stem of concevoir repr. Latin concipere, formed as CON- + capere take.]
I. In a physical sense.
verb trans. & intrans. Become pregnant (with); in pass., be created in the womb, be engendered. ME.
Bible (AV): Genesis 30:19 And Leah conceived againe, and bare Iacob the sixth sonne. W. F. Hook He preached the Lord Jesus Christ, who..was conceived by the Holy Ghost. F. Raphael In those two years Rachel conceived two children.
verb trans. In pass. Be made or become pregnant. LME-M17.
C. Marlowe A princess-priest, Conceiv'd by Mars, Shall yield to dignity a double birth.
verb trans. transf. Take on (any state or condition); catch (fire etc.). LME-M18.
C. Lucas The lightest waters most readily conceive igneous motion.
II. Of mental processes.
verb trans. Take or admit into the mind; become affected or possessed with. ME.
M. Edgeworth He had conceived a dislike..for this lady.
verb trans. & intrans. Form a mental representation (of or of); devise (a purpose, idea, plan, etc.); think, imagine. ME.
Bunyan I can better conceive of them with my Mind, then speak of them with my Tongue. W. Cowper He first conceives, then perfects his design. R. J. Sullivan His system..ill conceived and worse arranged. G. Greene He was incapable of conceiving the pain he might cause others. I. Murdoch He could not conceive of anybody enjoying Danby's company.
verb trans. Grasp mentally; take in, comprehend; understand. arch. LME.
Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz. B. Martin All this I conceive perfectly well.
verb trans. & intrans. Take into one's head; be of the opinion; fancy. LME.
J. Selden I am the rather induced to conceive charitably of those times. J. S. Mill He ought, I conceive, to be warned of the danger. R. H. Mottram Words..in what he conceived to be French.
III. Other senses after Latin.
verb trans. Encompass, comprise, comprehend. LME-L16.
verb trans. Institute (an action at law). LME-L16.
verb trans. Formulate, express in words etc.; couch. Usu. in pass. LME.
Gibbon His answer was conceived in the tone of insult and defiance.
conceivement noun (rare) (a) conception E17.
conceiver noun L16.