conceive

views updated May 23 2018

con·ceive / kənˈsēv/ • v. [tr.] (often be conceived) 1. become pregnant with (a child): she was conceived when her father was 49. ∎  [intr.] (of a woman) become pregnant: five months ago Wendy conceived.2. form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind: the project was originally conceived in 1977 | [as adj.] (conceived) a brilliantly conceived robbery. ∎  form a mental representation of; imagine: without society an individual cannot be conceived as having rights| [intr.] we could not conceive of such things happening to us. ∎  become affected by (a feeling).

conceive

views updated May 18 2018

conceive become pregnant (with) XIII; take into the mind XIV; formulate in words XVI. — OF. conceiv-, tonic stem of concevoir, for *conceivre :- L. concipere take to oneself, etc. f. CON- + capere take.
So conceivable XVI.

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