Origin: 1250–1300;Middle English < Anglo-French,Old Frenchconceivre < Latinconcipere to take fully, take in, equivalent to con-con- + -cipere, combining form of capere to take
late 13c., from stem of O.Fr. conceveir, from L. concipere (pp. conceptus) "to take in and hold," from com- intensive prefix + comb. form of capere "to take," from PIE *kap- "to grasp" (see capable). Originally "take (seed) into the womb, become pregnant;" sense of "take