Excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements; vanity. In literature, an elaborate or fanciful metaphorical comparison.
From Latin 'conceptus' meaning something conceived or thought up, from 'concipere' to conceive. Originally neutral, meaning simply 'concept,' it gained negative connotations of overly high self-regard in the 16th century.
The word's journey from 'concept' to 'vanity' reveals how thinking too much about oneself became seen as problematic. In poetry, however, conceits are celebrated - showing how the same mental process can be either character flaw or artistic brilliance.
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