Plural of conceit: an excessive belief in your own importance or abilities, or a clever and unusual comparison in poetry.
From Old French 'conceite', derived from Latin 'concipere' (to conceive, take in). Originally meant 'conception' or 'idea' in general, but shifted to mean a fanciful or overly clever idea, eventually taking on the meaning of arrogant self-regard.
In Renaissance poetry, conceits were prized for their wit—like John Donne comparing lovers to a compass. The word's journey from innocent 'idea' to 'arrogant notion' mirrors how every clever thought can curdle into pride.
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