3 results for: convinced

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

con·vince

Audio Help [kuh

–verb (used with object), -vinced, -vinc·ing.

1.	to move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action: to convince a jury of his guilt; A test drive will convince you that this car handles well.

2.	to persuade; cajole: We finally convinced them to have dinner with us.

3.	Obsolete. to prove or find guilty.

4.	Obsolete. to overcome; vanquish.

[Origin: 1520–30; < L convincere to prove (something) false or true, (somebody) right or wrong, equiv. to con- con- + vincere to overcome; see victor

]

—Related forms

con·vinc·ed·ly, adverb

con·vinc·ed·ness, noun

con·vinc·er, noun

con·vin·ci·ble, adjective

con·vinc·i·bil·i·ty, noun

—Synonyms 1. satisfy.

—Usage note Convince, an often stated rule says, may be followed only by that or of, never by to: We convinced him that he should enter (not convinced him to enter) the contest. He was convinced of the wisdom of entering. In examples to support the rule, convince is often contrasted with persuade, which may take to, of, or that followed by the appropriate construction: We persuaded him to seek counseling (or of his need for counseling or that he should seek counseling). The history of usage does not support the rule. Convince (someone) to has been in use since the 16th century and, despite objections by some, occurs freely today in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard: Members of the cabinet are trying to convince the prime minister not to resign.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

con·vince Audio Help (kən-vĭns') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. con·vinced, con·vinc·ing, con·vinc·es

To bring by the use of argument or evidence to firm belief or a course of action. See Synonyms at persuade.
Obsolete To prove to be wrong or guilty.
Obsolete To conquer; overpower.

[Latin convincere, to prove wrong : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + vincere, to conquer; see weik-³ in Indo-European roots.]

con·vince'ment n., con·vinc'er n., con·vinc'i·ble adj.

Usage Note: According to a traditional rule, one persuades someone to act but convinces someone of the truth of a statement or proposition: By convincing me that no good could come of staying, he persuaded me to leave. If the distinction is accepted, then convince should not be used with an infinitive: He persuaded (not convinced) me to go. In a 1981 survey, 61 percent of the Usage Panel rejected the use of convince with an infinitive. But the tide of sentiment against the construction appears to be turning. In a 1996 survey 74 percent accepted it in the sentence I tried to convince him to chip in a few dollars, but he refused. Even in passive constructions, a majority of the Panel accepted convince with an infinitive. Fifty-two percent accepted the sentence After listening to the teacher's report, the committee was convinced to go ahead with the new reading program. Persuade, on the other hand, is perfectly acceptable when used with an infinitive or a that clause in both active and passive constructions. An overwheming majority of Panelists in the 1996 survey accepted the following sentences: After a long discussion with her lawyer, she was persuaded to drop the lawsuit. The President persuaded his advisors that military action was necessary. Thus, it seems likely that advocates of the traditional rule governing persuade and convince will find fewer and fewer allies in their camp.

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