Vocabulary Builder: conceive and concept

Click to see Vol. I, Issue 4 of the newsletter in which this article first appeared.

The words conceive and concept have a close relationship going back to Latin concipere and conceptum, both of which are based on words meaning "to seize" or "to take in fully."

Thus:

conceive (verb): to form something--an idea or a purpose (but also a baby!); imagine, believe, become pregnant with

concept (noun): something which has been conceived; a notion, idea, 

I have mixed the derived words; an equal sign (=) means the words are near-perfect synonyms (i.e., they have the same meaning and usage).

• Verb Forms: conceive=conceptualize; conceives=conceptualizes; conceived=conceptualized; conceiving=conceptualizing (but we never use the "conceptualize" forms for making a baby)
• Noun Forms:
• concept (plural concepts)=conception (plural conceptions): "We're looking forward to hearing your concept for the new building." ("Conception" is also the act of making a baby: "at the moment of conception.")
• conceptualization (plural conceptualizations): the act or process of forming a concept: "We're behind schedule; the conceptualization of the new building is taking too long."
• Adjective forms:
• conceivable: imaginable: "We're taking every conceivable precaution."
• inconceivable: unimaginable: "The cost of the new building is inconceivable."
• conceptual: relating to a concept: "We're looking forward to seeing your conceptual drawings."
• Adverb forms:
• conceptually: relating to a concept, in front of an adjective: "The plan is conceptually impossible." (That is, the concept won't work.)
• conceivably: able to be imagined: "The costs could conceivably run into the millions."
• inconceivably: unable to be imagined: "The plan is inconceivably expensive."

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PRACTICE:

Place the correct form of "conceive" or "concept" in each sentence. Correct answers are in the first comment below.

1. There is no ________ way we can finish this project on time.
2. We might be finished soon, ________ by Christmas.
3. I'm trying to ________ a way to do this more cheaply.
4. He ________ the solution when the rest of us were still thinking about it.
5. If she ________ a new plan, let me know, will you?
6. They had trouble ________, so they decided to adopt.
7. I'm sorry, my ________ of the project is still unclear.
8. The ________ framework for the project is almost completed.
9. We need to hire a new architect; this one's ________ of the new building has been going on for months.
10. The new building's systems are ________ innovative.
11. That sort of rudeness in a formal situation is ________.
12. Our new boss is ________ intelligent.

1. conceive=conceptualize
2. conceives=conceptualizes
3. conceived=conceptualized
4. conceiving
5. concept=conception
6. conceptualization
7. conceivable
8. inconceivable
9. conceptual
10. conceptually
11. conceivably
12. inconceivably