convince

Borrowed from Latin convincō (“I refute, prove”), from con- + vincō (“I conquer, vanquish”). Doublet of convict. Displaced native Old English oferreċċan.

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /kənˈvɪns/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -ɪns

convince (third-person singular simple present convinces, present participle convincing, simple past and past participle convinced)

1. 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.

2. To persuade.
3. (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, [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, […]

4. (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, page 90:

     And therfore, God neuer wrought Miracle, to conuince Atheiſme, becauſe his Ordinary Works conuince it.

5. (obsolete, transitive) To prove guilty; to convict.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 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, Act II, page 18:

     O ſeek not to convince me of a Crime / Which I can ne'er repent, nor can you pardon.

• persuade
• satisfy
• assure
• convert
• win over

convince

1. third-person singular present indicative of convincere

convince

1. second-person singular present active imperative of convincō

• IPA^(key): /kuŋˈviŋt͡ʃe/

convince

1. to convince

• convinsion