convince
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin convincō (“I refute, prove”), from con- + vincō (“I conquer, vanquish”). Doublet of convict. Displaced native Old English oferreċċan.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /kənˈvɪns/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪns
Verb
convince (third-person singular simple present convinces, present participle convincing, simple past and past participle convinced)
- To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
- I wouldn't have or do something, unless I'm convinced that it's good.
- 1718, Francis Atterbury, sermon preached on Easter Day at Westminster Abbey
- Such convincing proofs and assurances of it as might enable them to convince others.
- To persuade.
- (obsolete, transitive) To overcome, conquer, vanquish.
- c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene vii], page 135:
- […] his two Chamberlaines / Will I with Wine, and Waſſell, ſo conuince, / That Memorie, the Warder of the Braine, / Shall be a Fume, […]
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- (obsolete, transitive) To confute; to prove wrong.
- 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Atheisme. XVI.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, OCLC 863521290, page 90:
- And therfore, God neuer wrought Miracle, to conuince Atheiſme, becauſe his Ordinary Works conuince it.
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- (obsolete, transitive) To prove guilty; to convict.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, John 8:46, column 1:
- Which of you conuinceth mee of ſinne?
- 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], OCLC 6484883, Act II, page 18:
- O ſeek not to convince me of a Crime / Which I can ne'er repent, nor can you pardon.
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Related terms
Translations
to make someone believe, or feel sure about something
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Italian
Latin
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