Part 424

Under the article of conception, I shall confine myself to that faculty whose province it is to enable us to form a notion of our past sensations, or of the objects of sense that we have formerly perceived. Stewart.

4. The formation in the mind of an image, idea, or notion, apprehension.

Conception consists in a conscious act of the understanding, bringing any given object or impression into the same class with any number of other objects or impression, by means of some character or characters common to them all. Coleridge.

5. The image, idea, or notion of any action or thing which is formed in the mind; a concept; a notion; a universal; the product of a rational belief or judgment. See Concept.

He [Herodotus] says that the sun draws or attracts the water; a metaphorical term obviously intended to denote some more general and abstract conception than that of the visible operation which the word primarily signifies. Whewell.

6. Idea; purpose; design.

Note this dangerous conception. Shak.

7. Conceit; affected sentiment or thought. [Obs.]

He . . . is full of conceptions, points of epigram, and witticism. Dryden.

Syn. -- Idea; notion; perception; apprehemsion; comprehension.

Con*cep"tion*al (?), a. Pertaining to conception.

Con*cep"tion*al*ist, n. A conceptualist.

Con*cep"tious, a. Apt to conceive; fruitful. [Obs.] Shak.

Con*cep"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. conceptif, L. conceptivus.] Capable of conceiving. Sir T. Browne

Con*cep"tu*al (?), a. Pertaining to conception.

Con*cep"tu*al*ism (?), n. (Metaph.) A theory, intermediate between realism and nominalism, that the mind has the power of forming for itself general conceptions of individual or single objects. Stewart.

Con*cep"tu*al*ist, n. (Metaph.) One who maintains the theory of conceptualism. Stewart.

Con*cern" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concerned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Concerning.] [F. concerner, LL. concernere to regard, concern, fr. L. concernere to mix or mingle together, as in a sieve for separating; con- + cernere to separate, sift, distinguish by the senses, and especially by the eyes, to perceive, see. See Certain.] 1. To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to.

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts xxviii. 31.

Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests, and concerned us more than those with any other nation. Addison.

It much concerns a preacher first to learn The genius of his audience and their turn. Dodsley.

Ignorant, so far as the usual instruction is concerned. J. F. Cooper.

2. To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest; as, a good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects.

They think themselves out the reach of Providence, and no longer concerned to solicit his favor. Rogers.

Con*cern", v. i. To be of importance. [Obs.]

Which to deny concerns more than avails. Shak.

Con*cern", n. 1. That which relates or belongs to one; business; affair.

The private concerns of fanilies. Addison.