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convince

con·vince [ kən víns ] (past and past participle con·vinced, present participle con·vinc·ing, 3rd person present singular con·vinc·es)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. make certain: to make somebody sure or certain of something
We are convinced of his guilt.

2. persuade to do something: to persuade somebody to believe or do something
Nothing would convince them to invest in such a scheme.

[Mid-16th century. < Latin convincere "prove wrong" < vincere "overcome"]

con·vinc·er noun
con·vinc·i·ble adjective

Word Usage
convince or persuade?

Traditionally, to convince somebody is to make him or her certain of something, and to persuade somebody is to induce him or her to act: She convinced him that he had talent and persuaded him to study music. Because of this distinction, some people still object to the use of an infinitive after convince, pointing out that She convinced him to... involves inducing someone to act. Nonetheless, the distinction is quickly disappearing by force of widespread usage, and constructions like this one are increasingly seen in the work of reputable writers: After a long series of tests I was convinced to go ahead with the surgery despite the risks.

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