Convince

Convince
Convince Con*vince", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Convinced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Convincing}.] [L. convincere, -victum, to refute, prove; con- + vincere to conquer. See {Victor}, and cf. {Convict}.] 1. To overpower; to overcome; to subdue or master. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

His two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convince That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. To overcome by argument; to force to yield assent to truth; to satisfy by proof. [1913 Webster]

Such convincing proofs and assurances of it as might enable them to convince others. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]

3. To confute; to prove the fallacy of. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

God never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

4. To prove guilty; to convict. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Which of you convinceth me of sin? --John viii. 46. [1913 Webster]

Seek not to convince me of a crime Which I can ne'er repent, nor you can pardon. --Dryden.

Syn: To persuade; satisfy; convict.

Usage: To {Convince}, {persuade}. To convince is an act of the understanding; to persuade, of the will or feelings. The one is effected by argument, the other by motives. There are cases, however, in which persuade may seem to be used in reference only to the assent of the understanding; as when we say, I am persuaded it is so; I can not persuade myself of the fact. But in such instances there is usually or always a degree of awakened feeling which has had its share in producing the assent of the understanding. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
(by proof or evidence),


Look at other dictionaries:

  • convince — The use followed by a to infinitive, on the analogy of persuade, induce, encourage, and other words, is recorded from the 1950s and is still disapproved of by many, although it is now common, especially informally: • He wants to convince me to… …   Modern English usage

  • convince — I verb allure, argue into, assure, bring to reason, carry conviction, clinch an argument, compel, compel belief, convert, dispose, enlist, exert influence, extort belief, gain the confidence of, impel, impress, incline, indoctrinate, induce,… …   Law dictionary

  • convince — (v.) 1520s, to overcome in argument, from L. convincere to overcome decisively, from com , intensive prefix (see COM (Cf. com )), + vincere to conquer (see VICTOR (Cf. victor)). Meaning to firmly persuade is from c.1600. Related: Convinced;… …   Etymology dictionary

  • convince — [v] gain the confidence of argue into, assure, brainwash, bring around, bring home to*, bring to reason*, change, demonstrate, draw, effect, establish, get, hook*, induce, make a believer*, overcome, persuade, prevail upon, prompt, prove, put… …   New thesaurus

  • convince — ► VERB 1) cause to believe firmly in the truth of something. 2) persuade to do something. DERIVATIVES convincer noun convincible adjective. ORIGIN Latin convincere overcome, demonstrate , from vincere conquer …   English terms dictionary

  • convince — [kən vins′] vt. convinced, convincing [L convincere, to overcome, convict of error < com , intens. + vincere, to conquer: see VICTOR] 1. Obs. to overcome, confute, or convict 2. to overcome the doubts of; persuade by argument or evidence; make …   English World dictionary

  • convince */*/*/ — UK [kənˈvɪns] / US verb [transitive] Word forms convince : present tense I/you/we/they convince he/she/it convinces present participle convincing past tense convinced past participle convinced 1) to make someone believe that something is true… …   English dictionary

  • convince — con|vince W3S3 [kənˈvıns] v [T] [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: convincere to prove untrue, convict, prove , from com ( COM ) + vincere to defeat ] 1.) to make someone feel certain that something is true ▪ Her arguments didn t convince… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • convince — convincedly, adv. convincedness, n. convincer, n. convincible, adj. convincibility, n. /keuhn vins /, v.t., convinced, convincing. 1. to move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action: to convince a jury of his… …   Universalium

  • convince — 01. My boyfriend is trying to [convince] me to get married, but I don t think that I m ready. 02. My parents are trying to [convince] me to go to university in the fall, but I want to take a year off to travel. 03. She was thinking of buying a… …   Grammatical examples in English

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