Conceptions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Ideas or mental images formed in the mind; understandings or beliefs held about something
2. Mental representations or notions that a person forms; particular ways of interpreting or believing in concepts
3. Thoughts or images conceived mentally; specific interpretations or accepted views regarding a subject

Etymology: The plural "conceptions" simply pluralises "conception," which reached English in Middle English as "concepcioun," borrowed from Old French. Its deepest roots lie in the Latin verb "concipere," meaning to take in or gather together, which in turn was built from "com-" ("together") and "capere" ("to take"). The Latin noun "conceptio" had a striking range of senses: it could mean a gathering or collection, a composition in writing, or the act of becoming pregnant. That last sense is the oldest in the family, and the word's bodily meaning of conceiving a child came before its mental sense. The mental sense grew out of the same idea of taking something in and holding it. To conceive of something was to take it into the mind, and so a conception became the idea or image formed there. The modern plural therefore covers two things at once: the notions people hold in their heads and the beliefs they hold about the world.

Synonyms: ideas, notions, thoughts, concepts, beliefs

Antonyms: misconceptions, ignorance, misunderstandings, confusion, dubiousness