conceited

Adjective

conceited (comparative more conceited or (rare, nonstandard) conceiteder, superlative most conceited or (rare, nonstandard) conceitedest)

1. Having an excessively favourable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc.; egotistical and vain.
   • If you think me too conceited / Or to passion quickly heated.c. 1732, Jonathan Swift, Epistle to a Lady
   • 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. (rhetoric) Having 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. (obsolete) Endowed with fancy or imagination.
   • AN EXCELLENT conceited Tragedie OF Romeo and Iuliet. As it hath been often (with great applause) plaid publiquelyc. 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...
   • He was […] pleasantly conceited, and sharp of wit.1603, Richard Knolles, The Generall Historie of the Turkes, […], London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC
4. (obsolete) Curiously 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...