conceit
excessive pride in one's own qualities or achievements; also, an elaborate metaphorical idea in literature
Word origin: From Latin concipere, to conceive (com- together plus capere to take), via the notion of a fancy formed in the mind.
Conceit in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing conceit in a sentence.
His conceit was so thorough that he genuinely could not imagine why others might disagree with him.
The poem turns on an extended conceit comparing memory to a flooded river.
Quick GRE check
3 questions, about 2 minutes. How would you do on the real test?
Verbal · Sentence Equivalence
Critics complained that the documentary's narration was relentlessly blank, hammering home its single thesis so often that viewers felt lectured rather than informed.
Using “conceit” well
Conceit usually means excessive self-regard, but in literature it names an elaborate, surprising metaphor. The literary sense is a frequent GRE twist.
More GRE words starting with C
a small secret group plotting against a government or authority
having a hidden or mysterious meaning understood only by initiates
a harsh, jarring mixture of sounds
to obtain something by begging or sponging off others
falling off or shed at an early stage, especially of plant parts
to coax someone into doing something through flattery or persuasion
an event causing great damage, loss, or distress
misty, dim, or dark, and therefore obscure
Questions about “conceit”
See these words the way the GRE tests them.
Take the free 39-minute GRE Quick Mock Test and meet words like this inside real Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, with a worked solution for every answer.