convict

[ verb, adjective kuhn-vikt; noun kon-vikt ]
See synonyms for convict on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial: to convict a prisoner of a felony.

  2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

noun
  1. a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.

  2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective
  1. Archaic. convicted.

Origin of convict

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb convicten, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + vic-, variant stem of vincere “to overcome” + -tus past participle suffix; Middle English noun convict “(a) convict,” adjective convict “convicted,” past participle of convicten “to convince” (or directly from Latin ); see con-, convince

Other words from convict

  • con·vict·a·ble, con·vict·i·ble, adjective
  • con·vic·tive, adjective
  • con·vic·tive·ly, adverb
  • pre·con·vict, verb (used with object)
  • re·con·vict, verb (used with object)
  • un·con·vict·ing, adjective
  • un·con·vic·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for convict

convict

verb(kənˈvɪkt) (tr)
  1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

noun(ˈkɒnvɪkt)
  1. a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment

  2. a person serving a prison sentence

adjective(kənˈvɪkt)
  1. obsolete convicted

Origin of convict

1
C14: from Latin convictus convicted of crime, from convincere to prove guilty, convince

Derived forms of convict

  • convictable or convictible, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012