conceited

comparative more conceited · comparative nonstandard rare conceiteder · superlative most conceited · nonstandard rare superlative conceitedest

1. Having an excessively favourable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc.; egotistical and vain.

   Conceited of their own wit, and science, and politeness.

   1692, Richard Bentley, [A Confutation of Atheism] (please specify the sermon), London: [Thomas Parkhurst; Henry Mortlock], published 1692–1693

   2 more examples

   If you think me too conceited / Or to passion quickly heated.

   c. 1732, Jonathan Swift, Epistle to a Lady

   And another asked me if I had come to get a Canadian sweetheart; and a third, one of the impudentest, most conceitedest fellows I ever did set eyes upon, nudged me, so that I spilled my coffee all over my second-best damask-silk apron—the one with bugle fringe, you know, Miss Capel—and says he, ‘Is it a case of Barkis is willin'?'

   1877, Emma Jane Worboise, “The New Evangeline”, in The Grey House at Endlestone, London: James Clarke and Co., […]; Hodder and Stoughton, […], →OCLC, page 480

2. rhetoricliteratureHaving an ingenious expression or metaphorical idea, especially in extended form or used as a literary or rhetorical device.

   Conceited wit showed its character towards the end of the fifteenth century in the work of poets who made it their aim to exercise their hearers' minds with cleaver plays of metaphor and ingenious reasoning.

   2006, A. J. Smith, Metaphysical Wit, page 20

3. obsoleteEndowed with fancy or imagination.

   He was […] pleasantly conceited, and sharp of wit.

   1603, Richard Knolles, The Generall Historie of the Turkes, […], London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC

   1 more example

   AN EXCELLENT conceited Tragedie OF Romeo and Iuliet. As it hath been often (with great applause) plaid publiquely

   c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, published 1597, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

4. obsoleteCuriously contrived or designed; fanciful.

   A conceited chair to sleep in.

   1644 November 19 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 10 November 1644]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of conceit