conceive

 
Pronunciation: /kənˈsiːv/

verb

[with object]
  • 1create (an embryo) by fertilizing an egg: she was conceived when her father was 49
  • [no object] (of a woman) become pregnant: five months ago Wendy conceived
  • 2form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind: the dam project was originally conceived in 1977 (as adjective, with submodifier conceived) a brilliantly conceived and executed robbery
  • form a mental representation of; imagine: without society an individual cannot be conceived as having rights [no object]: we could not conceive of such things happening to us
  • literary become affected by (a feeling): I had conceived a passion for another

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French concevoir, from Latin concipere, from com- 'together' + capere 'take'

Spelling rule

i before e except after c (as in receive).