conceit
UK: kənˈsiːt | US: kənˈsit
n. excessive pride in oneself or one's abilities; vanity
n. an elaborate or fanciful metaphor or literary device (archaic)
The word "conceit" originated from the Latin concipere ("to take in, conceive"), evolving through Old French conceit ("idea, thought"). Initially, it referred to mental conception or imagination (e.g., poetic conceits). Over time, it narrowed to mean "exaggerated self-opinion," reflecting how one "takes" (ceit) an inflated view of oneself (con-).
His conceit made him blind to constructive criticism.
The Renaissance poet’s conceit compared love to a battlefield.
She dismissed his achievements as mere conceit.
The artist’s conceit overshadowed his genuine talent.
Elizabethan sonnets often relied on elaborate conceits.