conceit
noun/kənˈsiːt/
/kənˈsiːt/
- [uncountable] (disapproving) the fact of being too proud of yourself and what you do
- I can say without conceit that I have talent.
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- [countable] (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.
- The director’s brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white.
- [countable] (specialist) a clever expression in writing or speech that involves a comparison between two things synonym metaphor
- The idea of the wind singing is a romantic conceit.
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘notion’, also ‘quaintly decorative article’): from conceive, on the pattern of pairs such as deceive, deceit.
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conceit