Correct use of "conceive"

[haiduc]

Hi, I'm attempting some poetry writing and I'm wondering if the following sentence is correct:

"It's hard to conceive of a feeling so profound and deep."

I'm trying to say that it's difficult to grasp mentally, since it goes beyond imagination.
Would conceive be the correct word to express this?
I really like the way it sounds especially in the context of the rhyme and meter.

Also, is there a difference between "conceive sth." and "conceive of sth."?
E.g. could I also say "conceive a feeling" in the above sentence?

Cheers!

[BobK]

Hi, I'm attempting some poetry writing and I'm wondering if the following sentence is correct:

"It's hard to conceive of a feeling so profound and deep."

I'm trying to say that it's difficult to grasp mentally, since it goes beyond imagination.
Would conceive be the correct word to express this?
I really like the way it sounds especially in the context of the rhyme and meter.

Also, is there a difference between "conceive sth." and "conceive of sth."?
E.g. could I also say "conceive a feeling" in the above sentence?

Cheers!

Your line is OK. The expression 'conceive a feeling' is sometimes used in the sense 'begin to have a feeling'. In 'conceive of a feeling' the person doing the conceiving is not the same person as the one who's feeling: in 'I can't conceive of anyone feeling that desperate' I'm not the one who's feeling desperate.

b

[haiduc]

Your line is OK. The expression 'conceive a feeling' is sometimes used in the sense 'begin to have a feeling'. In 'conceive of a feeling' the person doing the conceiving is not the same person as the one who's feeling: in 'I can't conceive of anyone feeling that desperate' I'm not the one who's feeling desperate.

b

Many thanks for your reply!

So if I want to say that the person conceiving is also the one who's feeling - which I want in this case - I'd need to omit the 'of'.

Does 'conceive a feeling' also have the meaning of 'mentally grasp' or does it always mean 'begin to have'?
I want to say that the person is overwhelmed by the feeling and is thus having difficulty to understand or imagine it mentally.

Thanks again!

[BobK]

Many thanks for your reply!

So if I want to say that the person conceiving is also the one who's feeling - which I want in this case - I'd need to omit the 'of'.

Does 'conceive a feeling' also have the meaning of 'mentally grasp'
[Note my 'sometimes' It seems to me that the word 'conceive' on its own is sufficient - if you just mean 'mentally grasp'. or does it always mean 'begin to have'?
I want to say that the person is overwhelmed by the feeling and is thus having difficulty to understand or imagine it mentally.

Thanks again!

That context makes my brain hurt . I'm not sure how it would be possible to conceive of a feeling; one could, for example, understand or sympathize with it (and if that usage of 'sympathize' bothers you, try a dictionary - it doesn't mean 'be sorry for' ).

I feel the ground shifting under my feet! I don't really like 'conceive of a feeling', and 'conceive a feeling' - if it means anything - doesn't mean what you want it to mean. Let's make it more concrete by specifying an emotion: I can say 'You can't conceive of how angry I am', but I can't think what it would mean if I said 'I can't conceive of how angry I am' - I'm feeling it; if it's overwhelming, I know it's an overwhelming feeling.

But stick with the 'of' - you prefer the sound, and it means what it means in the context.

b

[haiduc]

Thanks a lot Bob, that has been most helpful!
If it sounds weird after all I'll just refer to my artistic freedom