incept

[ in-sept ]

verb (used with object)

1. to take in; ingest.

incept

/ ɪnˈsɛpt /

verb

1. (of organisms) to ingest (food)
2. (formerly) to take a master's or doctor's degree at a university

noun

1. botany a rudimentary organ

Derived Forms

• inˈceptor, noun

Other Words From

• in·ceptor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of incept¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin inceptus, past participle of incipere “to begin, undertake,” equivalent to in- “in” + cep- (combining form of cap- “to take”) + -tus past participle suffix; the sense “to take in” by literal translation of prefix and base; in- ², captive

Word History and Origins

Origin of incept¹

C19: from Latin inceptus begun, attempted, from incipere to begin, take in hand, from in- ² + capere to take

Example Sentences

With few laws to manage the spread of the technology, disinformation experts have long warned that deepfake videos could further sever people’s ability to discern reality from forgeries online, potentially being misused to set off unrest or incept a political scandal.

From New York Times

“Oral histories are predicated upon common knowledge. I have to somehow incept you with common knowledge from the very first sentence and then break it apart and undermine it. I have to somehow create a myth while cutting through the myth at the exact same time. I was like, ‘What have I done?’”

From New York Times

Observation and military posts near the occupied Golan Heights were also hit, while Syrian air defence engaged its anti-air batteries to incept Israeli missiles.

From The Guardian

But there's always a video, and its purpose isn't so much to show off the specs, but instead to incept some emotion about the product into the primitive parts of your cortex.

From The Verge

Rick and Morty attempt to "incept" Morty's math teacher into giving him straight A's.

From Time