CONCEIVE, v.t. [L., to take.] 1. To receive into the womb, and breed; to begin the formation of the embryo or fetus of animal.Then shall she be free and conceive seed. Numbers 5. Hebrew 11.Elisabeth hath conceived a son in her old age. Luke 1.In sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 51.2. To form in the mind; to imagine; to devise.They conceive mischief and bring forth vanity. Job 15.Nebuchadnezzar hath conceived a purpose against you. Jeremiah 49.3. To form an idea in the mind; to understand; to comprehend.We cannot conceive the manner in which spirit operates upon matter.4. To think; to be of opinion; to have an idea; to imagine.You can hardly conceive this man to have been bred in the same climate.CONCEIVE, v.i. 1. To have a fetus formed in the womb; to breed; to become pregnant.Thou shalt conceive and bear a son. Judges 13.2. To think; to have a conception or idea.Conceive of things clearly and distinctly in their own natures. The grieved commons hardly conceive of me.3. To understand; to comprehend; to have a complete idea of; as, I cannot conceive by what means this event has been produced.
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