The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Chapter 336

Chapter 3362,819 wordsPublic domain

All traffic and mutual conversation . Hakluyt.

4. Colloqual discourse; oral interchange of sentiments and observations; informal dialogue.

The influence exercised by his [Johnson's] conversation was altogether without a parallel. Macaulay.

5. Sexual intercourse; as, criminal conversation .

Syn. -- Intercourse; communion; commerce; familiarity; discourse; dialogue; colloque; talk; chat. -- Conversation , Talk . There is a looser sense of these words, in which they are synonymous; there is a stricter sense, in which they differ. Talk is usually broken, familiar, and versatile. Conversation is more continuous and sustained, and turns ordinarily upon topics or higher interest. Children talk to their parents or to their companions; men converse together in mixed assemblies. Dr. Johnson once remarked, of an evening spent in society, that there had been a great deal of talk , but no conversation .

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Conversational <Xpage=318>

Con`ver*sa"tion*al (?) , a. Pertaining to conversation; in the manner of one conversing; as, a conversational style .

Thackeray.

Conversationalist <Xpage=318>

Con`ver*sa"tion*al*ist , n. A conversationist.

Conversationed <Xpage=318>

Conver*sa"tioned (?) , a. Acquainted with manners and deportment; behaved. [Obs.]

Till she be better conversationed , . . . I'll keep As far from her as the gallows. Beau. & Fl.

Conversationism <Xpage=318>

Con`ver*sa"tion*ism (?) , n. A word or phrase used in conversation; a colloqualism.

Conversationist <Xpage=318>

Con`ver*sa"tion*ist , n. One who converses much, or who excels in conversation.

Byron.

Conversative <Xpage=318>

Con*ver"sa*tive (?) , a. Relating to intercourse with men; social; -- opposed to contemplative .

She chose . . . to endue him with the conversative qualities of youth. Sir H. Wotton.

Conversazi-one <Xpage=318>

Con`ver*sa`zi-o"ne (?&or; ?) , n. ; pl. Conversazioni (#) . [It. See Conversation .] A meeting or assembly for conversation, particularly on literary or scientific subjects.

Gray.

These conversazioni [at Florence] resemble our card assemblies. A. Drummond.

Converse <Xpage=318>

Con*verse" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p.p. Conversed (?) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Conversing .] [F. converser , L. conversari to associate with; con- + versari to be turned, to live, remain, fr. versare to turn often, v. intens. of vertere to turn See Convert .] 1. To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune; -- followed by with .

To seek the distant hills, and there converse With nature. Thomson.

Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions. Sir W. Scott.

But to converse with heaven - This is not easy. Wordsworth.

2. To engage, in familiar colloqui; to interchange thoughts and opinions in a free, informal manner; to chat; -- followed by with before a person; by on , about , concerning , etc., before a thing.

Companions That do converse and waste the time together. Shak.

We had conversed so often on that subject. Dryden.

3. To have knowledge of, from long intercourse or study; -- said of things.

According as the objects they converse with afford greater or less variety. Locke.

Syn. -- To associate; commune; discourse; talk; chat.

Converse <Xpage=318>

Con"verse (?) , n. 1. Frequent intercourse; familiar communion; intimate association.

Glanvill.

"T is but to hold Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unrolled. Byron.

2. Familiar discourse; free interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.

Formed by thy converse happily to steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe. Pope.

Converse <Xpage=318>

Con"verse , a. [L. conversus , p.p. of convertere . See Convert .] Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; as, a converse proposition .

Converse <Xpage=318>

Con"verse , n. 1. (Logic) A proposition which arises from interchanging the terms of another, as by putting the predicate for the subject, and the subject for the predicate; as, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue .

&hand; It should not (as is often done) be confounded with the contrary or opposite of a proposition, which is formed by introducing the negative not or no .

2. (Math.) A proposition in which, after a conclusion from something supposed has been drawn, the order is inverted, making the conclusion the supposition or premises, what was first supposed becoming now the conclusion or inference. Thus, if two sides of a sides of a triangle are equal, the angles opposite the sides are equal; and the converse is true, i.e. , if these angles are equal, the two sides are equal.

Conversely <Xpage=318>

Con"verse*ly (? &or; <?/; 277) , adv. In a converse manner; with change of order or relation; reciprocally.

J. S. Mill.

Converser <Xpage=318>

Con*vers"er (?) , n. One who engages in conversation.

Conversible <Xpage=318>

Con*ver"si*ble (?) , a. Capable of being converted or reversed.

Hammond.

Conversion <Xpage=318>

Con*ver"sion (?) , n. [L. conversio : cf. F. conversion . See Convert .] 1. The act of turning or changing from one state or condition to another, or the state of being changed; transmutation; change.

Artificial conversion of water into ice. Bacon.

The conversion of the aliment into fat. Arbuthnot.

2. The act of changing one's views or course, as in passing from one side, party, or from of religion to another; also, the state of being so changed. " Conversion to Christianity."

Prescott.

3. (Law) An appropriation of, and dealing with the property of another as if it were one's own, without right; as, the conversion of a horse .

Or bring my action of conversion And trover for my goods. Hudibras.

4. (Logic) The act of interchanging the terms of a proposition, as by putting the subject in the place of the predicate, or the contrary.

5. (Math.) A change or reduction of the form or value of a proposition; as, the conversion of equations; the conversion of proportions.

6. (Mil.) (a) A change of front, as a body of troops attacked in the flank. (b) A change of character or use, as of smoothbore guns into rifles.

7. (Theol.) A spiritual and moral change attending a change of belief with conviction; a change of heart; a change from the service of the world to the service of God; a change of the ruling disposition of the soul, involving a transformation of the outward life.

He oft Frequented their assemblies, . . . and to them preached Conversion and repentance, as to souls In prison under judgments imminent. Milton.

Conversive <Xpage=318>

Con*ver"sive (?) , a. 1. Capable of being converted or changed.

2. Ready to converse; social. [Archaic]

Feltham.

Convert <Xpage=318>

Con*vert" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Converted ; p.pr. & vb.n. Converting .] [L. convertere , -versum ; con- + vertere to turn: cf. F. convertir . See Verse .] 1. To cause to turn; to turn. [Obs.]

O, which way shall I first convert myself? B. Jonson.

2. To change or turn from one state or condition to another; to alter in form, substance, or quality; to transform; to transmute; as, to convert water into ice .

If the whole atmosphere were converted into water. T. Burnet.

That still lessens The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. Milton.

3. To change or turn from one belief or course to another, as from one religion to another or from one party or sect to another.

No attempt was made to convert the Moslems. Prescott.

4. To produce the spiritual change called conversion in (any one); to turn from a bad life to a good one; to change the heart and moral character of (any one) from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness.

He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. Lames v. 20.

5. To apply to any use by a diversion from the proper or intended use; to appropriate dishonestly or illegally.

When a bystander took a coin to get it changed, and converted it, [it was] held no larceny. Cooley.

6. To exchange for some specified equivalent; as, to convert goods into money .

7. (Logic) To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.

8. To turn into another language; to translate. [Obs.]

Which story . . . Catullus more elegantly converted . B. Jonson.

Converted guns , cast-iron guns lined with wrought-iron or steel tubes. Farrow. -- Converting furnace (Steel Manuf.) , a furnace in which wrought iron is converted into steel by cementation.

Syn. -- To change; turn; transmute; appropriate.

Convert <Xpage=318>

Con*vert" , v. i. To be turned or changed in character or direction; to undergo a change, physically or morally.

If Nebo had had the preaching that thou hast, they [the Neboites] would have converted . Latimer.

A red dust which converth into worms. Sandys.

The public hope And eye to thee converting . Thomson.

Convert <Xpage=318>

Con"vert (?) , n. 1. A person who is converted from one opinion or practice to another; a person who is won over to, or heartily embraces, a creed, religious system, or party, in which he has not previously believed; especially, one who turns from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness, or from unbelief to Christianity.

The Jesuits did not persuade the converts to lay aside the use of images. Bp. Stillingfleet.

2. A lay friar or brother, permitted to enter a monastery for the service of the house, but without orders, and not allowed to sing in the choir.

Syn. -- Proselyte; neophyte. -- Convert , Proselyte , Pervert . A convert is one who turns from what he believes to have been a decided error of faith or practice. Such a change may relate to religion, politics, or other subjects. properly considered, it is not confined to speculation alone, but affects the whole current of one's feelings and the tenor of his actions. As such a change carries with it the appearance of sincerity, the term convert is usually taken in a good sense. Proselyte is a term of more ambiguous use and application. It was first applied to an adherent of one religious system who had transferred himself externally to some other religious system; and is also applied to one who makes a similar transfer in respect to systems of philosophy or speculation. The term has little or no reference to the state of the heart. Pervert is a term of recent origin, designed to express the contrary of convert , and to stigmatize a person as drawn off perverted from the true faith. It has been more particulary applied by members of the Church of England to those who have joined the Roman Catholic Church.

Convertend <Xpage=318>

Con`ver*tend" (?) , n. [L. convertenus to be converted.] (Logic) Any proposition which is subject to the process of conversion; -- so called in its relation to itself as converted, after which process it is termed the conversae . See Converse , n. (Logic) .

Converter <Xpage=318>

Con*vert"er (?) , n. 1. One who converts; one who makes converts.

2. (Steel Manuf.) A retort, used in the Bessemer process, in which molten cast iron is decarburized and converted into steel by a blast of air forced through the liquid metal.

Convertibility <Xpage=318>

Con*vert`i*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The condition or quality of being convertible; capability of being exchanged; convertibleness.

The mutual convertibility of land into money, and of money into land. Burke.

Convertible <Xpage=318>

Con*vert"i*ble (?) , a. [L. convertibilis : cf. F. convertible .] 1. Capable of being converted; susceptible of change; transmutable; transformable.

Minerals are not convertible into another species, though of the same genus. Harvey.

2. Capable of being exchanged or interchanged; reciprocal; interchangeable.

So long as we are in the regions of nature, miraculous and improbable, miraculous and incredible, may be allowed to remain convertible terms. Trench.

Convertibleness <Xpage=318>

Con*vert"i*ble*ness (?) , n. The state of being convertible; convertibility.

Convertibly <Xpage=318>

Con*vert"i*bly , adv. In a convertible manner.

Convertite <Xpage=318>

Con"vert*ite (?) , n. [Cf. It. convertito , p.p. of convertire to convert.] A convert. [Obs.]

Shak.

Convex <Xpage=318>

Con"vex (?) , a. [L. convexus vaulted, arched, convex, concave, fr. convehere to bring together: cf. F. convexe . See Vehicle .] Rising or swelling into a spherical or rounded form; regularly protuberant or bulging; -- said of a spherical surface or curved line when viewed from without, in opposition to concave .

Drops of water naturally form themselves into figures with a convex surface. Whewell.

Double convex , convex on both sides; convexo-convex.

Convex <Xpage=318>

Con"vex , n. A convex body or surface.

Half heaven's convex glitters with the flame. Tickell.

&hand; This word was often pronounced con-vex' by early writers, as by Milton, and occasionallyby later poets.

Convexed <Xpage=318>

Con"vexed (? &or; ?) , a. Made convex; protuberant in a spherical form.

Sir T. Browne.

Convexedly <Xpage=318>

Con*vex"ed*ly (?) , dv. In a convex form; convexly.

Sir T. Browne.

Convexedness <Xpage=318>

Con*vex"ed*ness , n. Convexity.

Convexity <Xpage=318>

Con*vex"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Convexities (#) . [L. convexitas : cf. F. convexit\'82 .] The state of being convex; the exterior surface of a convex body; roundness.

A smooth, uniform convexity and rotundity of a globe. Bentley.

Convexly <Xpage=318>

Con"vex*ly (?) , adv. In a convex form; as, a body convexly shaped .

Convexness <Xpage=318>

Con"vex*ness , n. The state of being convex; convexity.

Convexo-concave <Xpage=318>

Con*vex"o-con"cave (?&or; ?) , a. Convex on one side, and concave on the other. The curves of the convex and concave sides may be alike or may be different. See Meniscus .

Convexo-convex <Xpage=318>

Con*vex"o-con"vex (?) , a. Convex on bot<?/ sides; double convex. See under Convex , a.

Convexo-plane <Xpage=318>

Con*vex"o-plane` (?) , a. Convex on one side, and flat on the other; plano-convex.

Convey <Xpage=318>

Con*vey" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Conveyed (?) ; p.pr. & vb.n. Conveying .] [OF. conveir , convoier , to escort, convoy, F. convoyer , LL. conviare , fr. L. con- + via way. See Viaduct , Voyage , and cf. Convoy .] 1. To carry from one place to another; to bear or transport.

I will convey them by sea in fleats. 1 Kings v. 9.

Convey me to my bed, then to my grave. Shak.

2. To cause to pass from one place or person to another; to serve as a medium in carrying (anything) from one place or person to another; to transmit; as, air conveys sound; words convey ideas.

3. To transfer or deliver to another; to make over, as property; more strictly (Law) , to transfer (real estate) or pass (a title to real estate) by a sealed writing.

The Earl of Desmond . . . secretly conveyed all his lands to feoffees in trust. Spenser.

4. To impart or communicate; as, to convey an impression; to convey information.

Men fill one another's heads with noise and sound, but convey not thereby their thoughts. Locke.

5. To manage with privacy; to carry out. [Obs.]

I . . . will convey the business as I shall find means. Shak.

6. To carry or take away secretly; to steal; to thieve. [Obs.]

7. To accompany; to convoy. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Syn. -- To carry; transport; bear; transmit; trnsfer.

Convey <Xpage=318>

Con*vey" , v. i. To play the thief; to steal. [Cant]

But as I am Crack, I will convey , crossbite, and cheat upon Simplicius. Marston.

Conveyable <Xpage=318>

Con*vey"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being conveyed or transferred.

Burke.

Conveyance <Xpage=318>

Con*vey"ance (?) , n. 1. The act of conveying, carrying, or transporting; carriage.

The long joirney was to be performed on horseback, -- the only sure mode of conveyamce . Prescott.

Following th river downward, there is conveyance into the countries named in the text. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. The instrument or means of carrying or transporting anything from place to place; the vehicle in which, or means by which, anything is carried from one place to another; as, stagecoaches, omnibuses, etc., are conveyances ; a canal or aqueduct is a conveyance for water .

There pipes and these conveyances of our blood. Shak.

3. The act or process of transferring, transmitting, handing down, or communicating; transmission.

Tradition is no infallible way of conveyance . Stillingfleet.

4. (Law) The act by which the title to property, esp. real estate, is transferred; transfer of ownership; an instrument in writing (as a deed or mortgage), by which the title to property is conveyed from one person to another.

[He] found the conveyances in law to be so firm, that in justice he must decree the land to the earl. Clarendon.

5. Dishonest management, or artifice. [Obs.]

the very jesuits themselves . . . can not possibly devise any juggling conveyance how to shift it off. Hakewill.

Conveyancer <Xpage=318>

Con*vey"an*cer (?) , n. (Law) One whose business is to draw up conveyances of property, as deeds, mortgages, leases, etc.

Burrill.

Conveyancing <Xpage=318>

Con*vey"an*cing (?) , n. (Law) The business of a conveyancer; the act or business of drawing deeds, leases, or other writings, for transferring the title to property from one person to another.

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Conveyer <Xpage=319>

Con*vey"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, conveys or carries, transmits or transfers.

2. One given to artifices or secret practices; a juggler; a cheat; a thief. [Obs.]

Shak.

Conveyor <Xpage=319>