Con-vince′, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. CONVINCED (kon-vĭnst′); p. pr. & vb. n. CONVINCING.] [Lat. convincere, from con and vincere, to conquer; It. convincere, Sp. convencer, Fr. convaincre. Cf. CONVICT, v. t.]
Sense 1. To overpower, subdue, or vanquish. [Obs.]
That treasons could betray, and foes convince. Spenser.
Their malady convinces The great assay of art; but at his [the king’s] touch, ... they presently amend. Shak.
Sense 2. To overcome by argument; to force to yield assent to truth; to satisfy by proof.
To convince the proud what signs avail? Milton.
Sense 3. To prove guilty; to convict. [Obs.]
Seek not to convince me of a crime Which I can ne’er repent, nor you pardon. Dryden.
Synonyms—To persuade; satisfy; convict.—To CONVINCE, PERSUADE. To convince is an act of the understanding; to persuade, of the will or feelings. The one is effected by argument, the other by motives. There are cases, however, in which persuade may seem to be used in reference only to the assent of the understanding; as when we say, I am persuaded it is so; I can not persuade myself of the fact. But in such instances there is usually or always a degree of awakened feeling which has had its share in producing the assent of the understanding. “Conviction is the effect of substantial evidence, and is solid and permanent in its nature; persuasion, depending on our feelings, is exposed to various changes, and may vary both in the degree and in the object. Conviction answers in our minds to positive certainty; persuasion answers to probability.” Crabb.