suasionn.
/ˈsweɪʒən/ 1.
a. The act or fact of exhorting or urging; persuasion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun]
leadinga1300
suasionc1374
persuasionc1384
inducingc1480
induction1490
persuading1530
persuade1590
persuase1599
overswaying1611
inducementa1616
moral suasion1642
sales pitchery1968
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (1868) ii. pr. i. 30 Com nowe furþe þerfore þe suasioun of swetnesse Rethoryen.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1879) VII. 93 Seynte Elphegus was made bischop of Wynchestre, thro the suasion off blissede Andrewe, apperynge to seynte Dunstan.
1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in Wks. 157/1 Thei had ones at the subtill suasion of the deuill, broken the thirde comaundement.
1641 W. Prynne Antipathie 9 O perfidious, ungratefull counsell and swasion of this prelate.
1715 R. South 12 Serm. IV. 34 It cannot be subdued by meer Suasion.
1720 Watts in Reliq. Juv. (1789) 169 To address the ear With conquering suasion, or reproof severe.
1844 A. W. Kinglake Eothen xxviii. 401 Men governed by reasons, and suasion of speech.
1867 S. Smiles Huguenots Eng. & Ireland iv. 79 Conformity by force if not by suasion.
b. moral suasion: persuasion exerted or acting through and upon the moral nature or sense.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun]
leadinga1300
suasionc1374
persuasionc1384
inducingc1480
induction1490
persuading1530
persuade1590
persuase1599
overswaying1611
inducementa1616
moral suasion1642
sales pitchery1968
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 13 A cause of morall swasion to apprehend the truth.
1700 C. Nesse Antidote against Arminianism 102 Moral Swasion is necessary to recover fallen Man.
1861 Sat. Rev. 14 Dec. 596 [They] might..have found fitting occupation for their powers of moral suasion in the endeavour to avert a struggle far more ferocious.
1885 Dilke in Leeds Mercury 15 Dec. 5/3 Who thought that moral suasion needed to be aided by legislation.
c. transferred.
ΚΠ
1853 D. Masson in N. Brit. Rev. Aug. 316 The occult suasion of the rhyme.
a1861 A. H. Clough Poems & Prose Remains (1869) II. 392 The sinking stars their suasions urge for sleep.
1874 W. E. Gladstone in Contemp. Rev. Oct. 663 Introducing the Roman or Papal religion..under..the silent but steady suasion, of its ceremonial.
2. An instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > incitement or instigation > exhortation > act or instance of
suasionc1407
c1407 J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte 1994 With many mighty Argument, Tatteyne to ther entencion, By many strong suasion.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert 95 Ne þretyng of þe iuges, ne fayre suasiones of oþir.
a1575 N. Harpsfield Treat. Divorce Henry VIII (1878) (modernized text) 91 It is untrue that the state of the said 18 chapter standeth wholly upon dehortations but rather upon suasions and exhortations.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 149 Away with thy morality and morall swasions, bring them to the Spirit of Christ.
1663 J. Heath Flagellum 7 Growing insolent and uncorrigible from those results and swasions within him.
1865 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia V. xix. v. 500 Suasions from Montalembert.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.c1374