conceive

Where does the word "conceive" come from? It comes from Latin concipere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Conceive’s story begins in Latin: concipere meant “to take together, to grasp.” To take together, to grasp, from com- (together) and capere (to take). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as concevoir. Carried into French for forming an idea or becoming pregnant. It reached English by 1300s as conceive. Settled as the English word for forming an idea in the mind, or becoming pregnant. Today, conceive means to form an idea or plan in the mind, or to become pregnant.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient concipere "to take together, to grasp", to take together, to grasp, from com- (together) and capere (to take).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval concevoir "to form an idea, to become pregnant", carried into French for forming an idea or becoming pregnant.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s conceive "to form an idea in the mind, or to become pregnant", settled as the English word for forming an idea in the mind, or becoming pregnant.