Word: conceit (noun)

Associations

Conceit is a noun that refers to excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements. It often implies an inflated sense of self-worth.

• Example 1: "His conceit made it difficult for him to accept criticism." This shows how self-importance can affect a person's ability to take feedback.
• Example 2: "The artist's conceit was evident in his refusal to collaborate with others." This highlights how excessive pride can lead to isolation.
• Example 3: "While confidence is important, too much conceit can be off-putting." This compares healthy self-confidence with the negative aspect of conceit.

A well-known synonym is "arrogance." The difference is that conceit often involves having a high opinion of oneself in a more artistic or intellectual sense, while arrogance is more about an overbearing attitude toward others.

Substitution

Other words that can be used in place of "conceit" include:

• "vanity" - which implies a focus on appearance and superficial qualities.
• "hubris" - which carries a meaning of excessive pride that often leads to downfall. Depending on the context, using "vanity" may suggest a focus on looks while "hubris" may suggest a tragic flaw in someone's character.

Deconstruction

The root of the word "conceit" comes from the Latin "conceptus," meaning "to conceive" or "begin to understand." It originally referred to a mental image or idea but evolved to imply a reference to a fictional or exaggerated self-image. The prefix "con-" means "together" or "with," and "ceit" relates to "cept" from "capere," meaning "to seize." Thus, it suggests the idea of holding onto a self-image tightly.

Inquiry

• How do you think conceit can affect relationships with other people?
• Can you think of a time when you encountered someone who was overly conceited? How did it make you feel?
• In what situations do you think confidence crosses the line into conceit?