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v. con·ceived, con·ceiv·ing, con·ceives v.tr. 1. To become pregnant with (offspring): She conceived her first child in London, but her second child was conceived in Paris. 2. To form or develop in the mind: conceive a plan to increase profits; conceive a passion for a new acquaintance. 3. To apprehend mentally; understand: couldn't conceive the meaning of that sentence. 4. To be of the opinion that; think: didn't conceive that such a tragedy could occur. 5. To begin or originate in a specific way: a political movement that was conceived in the ferment of the 1960s. v.intr. 1. To form or hold an idea: Ancient peoples conceived of the earth as flat. 2. To become pregnant. [Middle English conceiven, from Old French concevoir, conceiv-, from Latin concipere : com-, intensive pref.; see COM- + capere, to take; see kap- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] con·ceiv′a·bili·ty, con·ceiva·ble·ness n. con·ceiva·ble adj. con·ceiva·bly adv. con·ceiver n. |
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