preconcept

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *per-

Proto-Indo-European *preh₂-

Proto-Indo-European *-i

Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i?

Proto-Italic *prai

Proto-Italic *prai-

Latin prae-lbor.

Middle English pre-

English pre-

Latin conceptusder.

Middle French conceptbor.

English concept

English preconcept

From pre- + concept.

Noun

preconcept (plural preconcepts)

1. The mental precursor to a fully-formed concept.
   • 2012, Andy Blunden, Concepts: A Critical Approach, page 247:

     But out of their earliest concept of number, as a preconcept, a true concept may be constructed, by the child becoming aware of their own mental operations using the preconcept.