Pun vs Conceit - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between pun and conceit

is that pun is to beat; strike with force; ram; pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder or pun can be to make or tell a pun; make a play on words while conceit is (obsolete) to form an idea; to think.

As nouns the difference between pun and conceit

is that pun is a joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused while conceit is (obsolete) something conceived in the mind; an idea, a thought.

pun

English

(wikipedia pun)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . More at (l).

Verb

To beat; strike with force; ram; pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder.

* Shakespeare

He would pun thee into shivers with his fist.

Etymology 2

From a special use of Etymology 1 .

Noun

(en noun)

A joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused.

* {{quote-book

, title=(Mansfield Park) , last=Austen , first=Jane , authorlink=Jane Austen , year=1814 citation , volume=one, chapter VI , publisher= }}

"Certainly, my home at my uncle's brought me acquainted with a circle of admirals. Of Rears'' and ''Vices I saw enough. Now do not be suspecting me of a pun , I entreat."

*:Comment : Austen was likely referring to spanking/flogging, then common naval punishments, known as (le vice Anglais) .

Usage notes

* Because some puns are based on pronunciation, puns are more obvious when spoken aloud. For example: “This rock is gneiss, but don’t take it for granite.” This reads (with a US accent) similarly to “This rock is nice, but don’t take it for granted.” (Both “gneiss” and “granite” are types of rock.)

Synonyms

* See also

Verb

To make or tell a pun; make a play on words.

We punned about the topic until all around us groaned.

Anagrams

* ----

conceit

English

Alternative forms

* (obsolete)

Noun

(obsolete) Something conceived in the mind; an idea, a thought.

* Francis Bacon

In laughing, there ever procedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous.

* Bible, Proverbs xxvi. 12

a man wise in his own conceit

The faculty of conceiving ideas; mental faculty; apprehension.

a man of quick conceit

* Sir Philip Sidney

How often, alas! did her eyes say unto me that they loved! and yet I, not looking for such a matter, had not my conceit open to understand them.

Quickness of apprehension; active imagination; lively fancy.

* Shakespeare

His wit's as thick as Tewksbury mustard; there is no more conceit in him than is in a mallet.

(obsolete) Opinion, (neutral) judgment.

* 1499 , (John Skelton), The Bowge of Courte :

By him that me boughte, than quod Dysdayne, / I wonder sore he is in suche cenceyte .

(countable) A novel or fanciful idea; a whim.

* L'Estrange

On his way to the gibbet, a freak took him in the head to go off with a conceit .

* Alexander Pope

Some to conceit alone their works confine, / And glittering thoughts struck out at every line.

* Dryden

Tasso is full of conceits which are not only below the dignity of heroic verse but contrary to its nature.

(countable, rhetoric, literature) An ingenious expression or metaphorical idea, especially in extended form or used as a literary or rhetorical device.

(uncountable) Overly high self-esteem; vain pride; hubris.

* Cotton

Plumed with conceit he calls aloud.

Design; pattern.

(Shakespeare)

Derived terms

* conceited * conceitedly * conceitedness * self-conceit

Verb

(en verb)

(obsolete) To form an idea; to think.

* 1643 : , The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce

Those whose vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes.

(obsolete) To conceive.

* South

The strong, by conceiting themselves weak, are therebly rendered as inactive as if they really were so.

* Shakespeare

One of two bad ways you must conceit me, / Either a coward or a flatterer.

External links

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