convict
[ verb, adjective kuhn-vikt; noun kon-vikt ]
verb (used with object)
to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial: to convict a prisoner of a felony.
to impress with a sense of guilt.
noun
a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.
a person serving a prison sentence.
adjective
Archaic. convicted.
Origin of convict
1First 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)
to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence
noun(ˈkɒnvɪkt)
a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment
a person serving a prison sentence
adjective(kənˈvɪkt)
obsolete convicted
Origin of convict
1C14: 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
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