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conversation - 6 dictionary results

con⋅ver⋅sa⋅tion

  [kon-ver-sey-shuhn]
Use conversation in a Sentence
–noun
1. informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk; colloquy.
2. an instance of this.
3. association or social intercourse; intimate acquaintance.
4. criminal conversation.
5. the ability to talk socially with others: She writes well but has no conversation.
6. Obsolete.
a. behavior or manner of living.
b. close familiarity; intimate acquaintance, as from constant use or study.
Origin:
1300–50; ME conversacio(u)n < L conversātiōn- (s. of conversātiō) society, intercourse, equiv. to conversāt(us) ptp. of conversārī to associate with (see converse 1 ) + -iōn- -ion

Synonyms:
1. dialogue, chat.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To conversation
con·ver·sa·tion   (kŏn'vər-sā'shən)   
n.  
    1. The spoken exchange of thoughts, opinions, and feelings; talk.
    2. An instance of this: held a long conversation on the subject.
  2. An informal discussion of a matter by representatives of governments, institutions, or organizations.
con'ver·sa'tion·al adj., con'ver·sa'tion·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Conversation

Con`ver*sa"tion\, n. [OE. conversacio (in senses 1 & 2), OF. conversacion, F. conversation, fr. L. conversatio frequent abode in a place, intercourse, LL. also, manner of life.]

1. General course of conduct; behavior. [Archaic]

Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel. --Philip. i. 27.

2. Familiar intercourse; intimate fellowship or association; close acquaintance. "Conversation with the best company." --Dryden.

I set down, out of long experience in business and much conversation in books, what I thought pertinent to this business. --Bacon.

3. Commerce; intercourse; traffic. [Obs.]

All traffic and mutual conversation. --Hakluyt.

4. Colloquial discourse; oral interchange of sentiments and observations; informal dialogue.

The influence exercised by his [Johnson's] conversation was altogether without a parallel. --Macaulay.

5. Sexual intercourse; as, criminal conversation.

Syn: Intercourse; communion; commerce; familiarity; discourse; dialogue; colloquy; talk; chat.

Usage: Conversation, Talk. There is a looser sense of these words, in which they are synonymous; there is a stricter sense, in which they differ. Talk is usually broken, familiar, and versatile. Conversation is more continuous and sustained, and turns ordinarily upon topics or higher interest. Children talk to their parents or to their companions; men converse together in mixed assemblies. Dr. Johnson once remarked, of an evening spent in society, that there had been a great deal of talk, but no conversation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : conversation
Spanish: conversación,
German: die Unterhaltung,
Japanese: 会話
More Translations »

conversation 
1340, from O.Fr. conversation, from L. conversationem (nom. conversatio) "act of living with," prp. of conversari "to live with, keep company with," lit. "turn about with," from L. com- intens. prefix + vertare, freq. of vertere (see versus). Originally "having dealings with others," also "manner of conducting oneself in the world;" specific sense of "talk" is 1580. Used as a synonym for "sexual intercourse" from at least 1511, hence criminal conversation, legal term for adultery from late 18c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Conversation

generally the goings out and in of social intercourse (Eph. 2:3; 4:22; R.V., "manner of life"); one's deportment or course of life. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of verbal communication from one to another (Ps. 50:23; Heb. 13:5). In Phil. 1:27 and 3:20, a different Greek word is used. It there means one's relations to a community as a citizen, i.e., citizenship.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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conversation

In addition to the idiom beginning with conversation, also see make conversation.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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