convincev.
/kənˈvɪns/, U.S. /kənˈvɪns/ I. To overcome.† 1. To overcome, conquer, vanquish; figurative to overpower. Also absol. Obsolete.† 2. To overcome (a person) in argument; to prove to be wrong, confute. Obsolete. (Cf. also 6)Johnson's explanation ‘to force any one to acknowledge a contested position’, is intermediate between 2 and 3: he has not the fully developed current sense.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > victory > make victorious [verb (transitive)] > conquer or overcome
overcomeeOE
shendc893
awinc1000
overwinOE
overheaveOE
to lay downa1225
mate?c1225
discomfitc1230
win1297
dauntc1300
cumber1303
scomfit1303
fenkc1320
to bear downc1330
confoundc1330
confusec1330
to do, put arrear1330
oversetc1330
vanquishc1330
conquerc1374
overthrowc1375
oppressc1380
outfighta1382
to put downa1382
discomfortc1384
threshc1384
vencuea1400
depressc1400
venque?1402
ding?a1425
cumrayc1425
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
to bring or put to (or unto) utterance1430
distrussc1430
supprisec1440
ascomfita1450
to do stress?c1450
victorya1470
to make (win) a conquest1477
convanquish1483
conquest1485
defeat1485
oversailc1485
conques1488
discomfish1488
fulyie1488
distress1489
overpress1489
cravent1490
utter?1533
to give (a person) the overthrow1536
debel1542
convince1548
foil1548
out-war1548
profligate1548
proflige?c1550
expugnate1568
expugn1570
victor1576
dismay1596
damnify1598
triumph1605
convict1607
overman1609
thrash1609
beat1611
debellate1611
import1624
to cut to (or in) pieces1632
maitrise1636
worst1636
forcea1641
outfight1650
outgeneral1767
to cut up1803
smash1813
slosh1890
ream1918
hammer1948
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat
shendc893
overwinOE
overheaveOE
mate?c1225
to say checkmatea1346
vanquishc1366
stightlea1375
outrayc1390
to put undera1393
forbeat1393
to shave (a person's) beardc1412
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
adawc1440
supprisec1440
to knock downc1450
to put to the worsta1475
waurc1475
convanquish1483
to put out1485
trima1529
convince1548
foil1548
whip1571
evict1596
superate1598
reduce1605
convict1607
defail1608
cast1610
banga1616
evince1620
worst1646
conquer1655
cuffa1657
trounce1657
to ride down1670
outdo1677
routa1704
lurcha1716
fling1790
bowl1793
lick1800
beat1801
mill1810
to row (someone) up Salt River1828
defeat1830
sack1830
skunk1832
whop1836
pip1838
throw1850
to clean out1858
take1864
wallop1865
to sock it to1877
whack1877
to clean up1888
to beat out1893
to see off1919
to lower the boom on1920
tonk1926
clobber1944
ace1950
to run into the ground1955
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxjv Thenglishmen..with al their wittes studied, bothe how to repulse & conuince their enemies.
1570 Preston Cambyses in W. C. Hazlitt Dodsley's Sel. Coll. Old Eng. Plays (1874) IV. 174 I mean to go Into the Egypt land, Them to convince by force of arms.
1609 A. Munday tr. Palmerin of England I. i At length convinced with heavinesse of sleepe..he..turned him to the wall.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. vii. 64 His two Chamberlaines Will I with Wine, and Wassell, so conuince, That Memorie, the Warder of the Braine, Shall be a Fume. View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)]
answerOE
bitavelena1225
allayc1275
confoundc1384
concludea1400
conclusea1400
forblenda1400
gainsaya1400
rejag1402
to bear downc1405
redarguea1425
repugn?a1425
reverse?c1430
improvec1443
reprovea1513
dissolve1529
revince1529
convince1530
confute1533
refel1534
refute1545
void1570
evict1583
infringe1590
reprehend1597
revert1598
evince1608
repel1613
to take off1618
unbubblea1640
invalid1643
invalidate1649
remove1652
retund1653
effronta1657
dispute1659
unreason1661
have1680
demolish1691
to blow sky-high1819
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 498/2 There have ben twenty doctours to dispute with hym and above, but they all can nat convince hym.
1582 Bible (Rheims) Acts xviii. 28 For he with vehemencie conuinced [so 1611; 1881 confuted] the Iewes openly, shewing by the scriptures, that Iesvs is Christ.
1611 Bible (King James) Job xxxii. 12 There was none of you that conuinced [so 1885] Iob, or that answered his words. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 3 Satan stood..confuted and convinc't Of his weak arguing, and fallacious drift. View more context for this quotation
1708 Chamberlayne's Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (1743) i. ii. vii. 69 Their office is to confirm the wavering, convince the obstinate.
3. † e. Phrase. to convince any one's belief. Obsolete.
a. To cause (a person) to admit, as established to his satisfaction, that which is advanced in argument; to bring to acknowledge the truth of; to satisfy or persuade by argument or evidence. In passive, To be brought to, or to have, a full conviction; to be firmly persuaded. (= convict v. 5).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)]
persuadec1450
ensurec1500
satisfyc1520
convict1583
forcea1586
move1590
possess1591
secure1602
confirm1607
convince1609
convince1632
induce1655
prepossessa1676
coax1676
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 65 The reverence I owe you obligeth mee to receive them [your reasons] as if they had already convinced mee.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xi. 320 He that sees a Fire, may, if he doubt..feel it too; and be convinced, by putting his Hand in it.
a1763 W. Shenstone Elegies vi, in Wks. Verse & Prose (1764) I. 19 Translate the song; convince my doubting maid.
1773 Ann. Reg. 1772 255 ‘I am confuted, but not convinced’ is an apology sometimes offered.
1828 T. Carlyle Burns in Edinb. Rev. Dec. 274 Let him who would move and convince others, be first moved and convinced himself.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. 488 I am convinced..and have nothing more to object.
b. of a fact.
ΚΠ
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 141 Convinc'd of Conquest, he resum'd his shape. View more context for this quotation
1826 T. Bewick Hist. Brit. Birds (ed. 6) I. 60 But having since seen several..[the editor] is convinced of the mistake.
1879 J. Lubbock Sci. Lect. vi. 171 It is never very difficult to convince one's self of what one wishes to believe.
c. with subordinate clause.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)]
persuadec1450
ensurec1500
satisfyc1520
convict1583
forcea1586
move1590
possess1591
secure1602
confirm1607
convince1609
convince1632
induce1655
prepossessa1676
coax1676
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iii. ii. 160 That persuasion could but thus conuince me, That my integrity and truth to you, Might be affronted, etc. View more context for this quotation
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. i. §2 Those who would not be convinced by them that there was a God.
1791 W. Cowper Let. 27 May (1982) III. 519 No man shall convince me that I am improperly govern'd while I feel the contrary.
1862 J. Ruskin Munera Pulveris (1880) 83 My neighbour cannot be convinced that I am wiser than he is.
d. To produce a moral conviction of sinfulness.Here there is a mixture of 4 (where see quot. 1611 ‘convince of sin’) with the modern notion of 3. Cf. convict n.1 Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > sin > [verb] > convince of
convict1526
convince1647
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > repentance or contrition > repent (sin, wrongdoing, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > affect with remorse > bring to acknowledgement of error
convict1526
convince1647
1647 Humble Advice Assembly of Divines conc. Shorter Catech. (new ed.) 14 Convincing us of our sin and misery.
a1853 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1872) 3rd Ser. iv. 59 By convincing of sin, by humbling the man.
1880 J. A. Froude Bunyan ii. 25 A man of fervid temperament suddenly convinced of sin.
ΚΠ
1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa III. ii. iii. 284 Artabazus..convinc'd my beleife, that he would not be an Enemy to the Romans, by many pregnant reasons.
1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa IV. ii. v. 464 After I had convinc't his beliefe of that Truth by many protestations.
f. To induce, prevail upon, persuade. Const. to with infinitive. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon
wina1340
persuadec1450
to prevail withc1450
prevail1466
train1549
overswaya1586
oppugn1596
overrulea1616
reach1637
to prevail upon1656
to gain upon1790
convince1958
1958 Word Study Oct. 5/2 Another usage..that seems to be becoming frequent in Pennsylvania and New York, is that of ‘convince’ in the sense of ‘persuade’, e.g., ‘She convinced him to clean the cellar’.
1977 J. Hodgins Invention of World iii. 88 They..convinced the priest to bless it.
1979 D. Halberstam Powers that Be (1980) ii. 90 He worked very hard personally to convince Ike to run.
1983 Observer 9 Oct. 15/2 Barril's overtures failed to convince him to come out of hiding.
II. To convict, prove, demonstrate.† 4. † b. transferred of things. Obsolete.† 5. To demonstrate or prove (originally something reprehensible, but subsequently also in a neutral or good sense). Obsolete (= convict v. 3.)† a. a person to be or to have done something.† b. a thing to be or as something. Obsolete.† c. that a thing is something. Obsolete.† d. with simple object (representing a proposition). Obsolete.† 6. To demonstrate or prove (a thing, argument, etc.) to be erroneous; to disprove, refute.This sense has relations also with sense 2: cf. convict adj. 6.† 7. † b. To expose and reprehend (faults). Obsolete.† 8. To demonstrate or prove any quality, property, or predicate, of a person or thing: i.e. that the person or thing is possessed of such quality, etc. Obsolete.
a. To prove (a person) to be guilty, or in the wrong, esp. by judicial procedure; to prove or find guilty; to convict of, rarely for, in (an offence or error); = convict v. 1, 2 Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > conviction or judicial condemnation > convict or condemn [verb (transitive)]
fordeemc1000
attain1330
filec1330
condemna1340
shape1340
dem1377
convictc1380
reprovea1382
damnc1384
overtakea1393
attainta1400
taintc1400
commita1425
vanquish1502
convincea1535
cast1536
convanquish1540
deprehend1598
forejudge1603
do1819
a1535 Bp. J. Fisher Wks. 435 Who that hath broken the lawe of Moyses, if he were conuinced by two or thre wytnesses, he with out any mercy shulde dye.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie C 345 To be charged, or conuinced in manie crymes.
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Evagrius Scholasticus ii, xviii, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 443 Thou art..conuinced of manye other haynous crimes.
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 198/1 If..they be convinced thereby in the latter day for abusing this ceremonie.
1611 Bible (King James) John viii. 46 Which of you conuinceth mee of sinne? View more context for this quotation
1692 J. Ray Misc. Disc. Dissolution World ix. 182 Convinces him of a gross Mistake.
1776 S. Foote Bankrupt iii. 87 Instead of clearing, this paper only serves to convince her.
ΚΠ
1624 A. Wotton Runne from Rome 58 The assumption..will conuince the proposition of falsehood.
1716 M. Davies Athenæ Britannicæ II. 361 All of them convinc'd..Arianism of Heresy and Blasphemy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)]
i-sothea925
soothec950
fanda1000
kitheOE
betell1048
showc1175
prove?c1225
treousec1275
stablisha1325
approve1340
verifyc1386
justifya1393
tryc1412
answer?a1425
appreve?c1450
to make gooda1470
convictc1475
averifyc1503
arguea1513
find1512
pree1515
comprobate1531
demonstrate1538
conclude1549
convince1555
argument1558
evict1571
avoucha1593
evidencea1601
remonstrate1601
clear1605
attaint1609
monstrate1609
evince1610
evince1611
improve1613
remonstrance1621
to make out1653
ascertain1670
to bring off1674
to make (something) to through1675
render1678
substantiatea1691
establisha1704
to bring out1727
realize1763
validate1775
1555 W. Waterman tr. Josephus in tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions sig. U.vjv Excepte any man..can bring any other cause to conuince them [the iudges] not to haue iudged a righte.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. i. sig. G.vi/1 Thereby to conuince vs to be sinners.
1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Descr. Germanie vi, in Annales 270 The Gallican toong doth conuince the Gothinos..not to be Germans.
1660 T. M. Walker's Hist. Independency IV. 54 It were sufficient to convince the Speaker to be a Son of Beliall.
1692 O. Walker Greek & Rom. Hist. 64 Whoso was convinced to have ploughed them [the Termini] up, both his Oxen and himself were accursed.
ΚΠ
1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 409 The false Latine that is in many, is sufficient to conuince them for counterfets.
1613 J. Salkeld Treat. Angels 203 This may easily be convinced as false.
1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. ii. § 53 Other Arguments, whereby they convinced their doctrine to be true.
1654 T. Fuller 2 Serm. 58 So much of the Morall Law..as may convince their practice to be contrarie thereunto.
ΚΠ
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 143 Those two prouerbes of holy Scripture..conuince, that they [sc. dogs] are emblems of vile, cursed, rayling, and filthy men.
1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 108 Sufficient to convince, that without doubt Herod's Amphitheatres were of Wood.
ΚΠ
1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence vii. 125 The first proposition is, beyond all dispute, certain..Hoc facite, convinces it.
1665 R. Boyle Disc. iii. ii, in Occas. Refl. sig. D2 If Experience did not convince the contrary.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > an argument, statement, etc.
assoilc1370
disprovec1380
soilc1380
conclude1388
unprovea1425
denyc1425
oppugn?1435
deprevea1450
refelc1450
disapprove1481
impreve1488
confute1529
deprove1530
convince?1531
refute1533
save1591
convict1593
elide1593
redargue1613
to wrestle off1639
?1531 J. Frith Disput. Purgatorye i. sig. e6 What so ever is not answered in this parte, shalbe touched and fullye convinced in the thirde.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke iii. (R.) With a texte of Holy Scripture rightly alleged, he conuinced the texte of Scripture whiche Satan had falsely cyted.
1621 T. Venner Treat. Tobacco (1650) 398 It convinceth not my assertion.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 90 God neuer wrought Miracle to conuince Atheisme, because his Ordinary Works conuince it.
a. To demonstrate or prove (absurdity, error, vanity, etc.) to be such; to expose (in its real character). Obsolete (= convict v. 6b.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > by proving error or weakness
reprovea1398
falsifyc1449
enervate1565
convince1583
disprove1584
imposture1622
distest1647
disauthenticate1658
convict1717
negative1790
unsubstantiate1799
to show up1893
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > the true character or identity of
utter1526
wray1576
convince1583
strip1619
dispersonate1624
convict1717
to show up1821
out1990
1583 W. Fulke Def. Transl. Script. x. 391 The text itself, you say, is sufficient to convince this absurdity.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 42 A very great argument..to conuince that grosse and blockish conceit of them who, etc.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 94 The other..would not discover or convince their vanity.
1675 R. Vaughan Disc. Coin & Coinage ii. 7 I shall convince hereafter an important and a popular Error.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > dispraise or discommendation > dispraise or discommend [verb (transitive)] > censure or condemn
bidemea1200
convictc1366
reprovea1382
damnc1386
condemna1400
deema1400
saya1400
judgec1400
reprehendc1400
reproacha1475
reprobate?a1475
arguec1475
controlc1525
twit1543
perstringe1549
tax1569
traduce1581
carp1591
censure1605
convince?1606
syndic1609
syndicate1610
to check at1642
reprimand1660
impeach1813
to stroke over1822
?1606 H. Barrow Plaine Refutation 242 The faults..of a Church may be seuerely reproued and conuinced according to the qualitie thereof, & yet the Church not be condemned.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)] > be proof of > in line with assertion
prove1517
showa1530
convince1595
approvea1680
1595 W. Allen et al. Conf. Next Succession Crowne of Ingland i. vi. 124 Yet shal I now agayne conuince more amply the vntruth therof.
1610 J. Healey tr. St. Augustine Citie of God xxi. vi. 844 To conuince the possibility of what we intend, against those Infidells.
a1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. (1675) 91 An evidence..sufficient to convince the existence of a Deity.
1681 Humble Ess. Peace & Truth Church 6 The antient Champions of Christianity most rationally convinced the Vanity of Heathenish Superstition.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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