Definition of conceive

< conceited

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con·ceive    (kn-sv) KEY 

VERB:
con·ceived, con·ceiv·ing, con·ceives
VERB:
tr.

1. To become pregnant with (offspring).
2. To form or develop in the mind; devise: conceive a plan to increase profits.
3. To apprehend mentally; understand: couldn't conceive the meaning of that sentence.
4. To be of the opinion that; think: didn't conceive such a tragedy could occur.
5. To begin or originate in a specific way: a political movement conceived in the ferment of the 1960s.

VERB:
intr.

1. To form or hold an idea: Ancient peoples conceived of the earth as flat.
2. To become pregnant.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English conceiven, from Old French concevoir, conceiv-, from Latin concipere : com-, intensive pref. ; see com- + capere, to take; see kap- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
con·ceiva·bili·ty or con·ceiva·ble·ness(Noun), con·ceiva·ble(Adjective), con·ceiva·bly(Adverb), con·ceiver(Noun)