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Today it means

convict

to declare someone guilty of a criminal offense following a trial

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Where does the word "convict" come from? It comes from Latin convictus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

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Where does the word "convict" come from? It comes from Latin convictus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Convict’s story begins in Latin: convictus meant “proven guilty.” Proven guilty, from com- (thoroughly) and vincere (to conquer, to overcome). It reached English by 1300s as convict. Settled as the English word for declaring someone guilty of a crime. Today, convict means to declare someone guilty of a criminal offense following a trial.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient convictus "proven guilty", proven guilty, from com- (thoroughly) and vincere (to conquer, to overcome).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s convict "to declare someone guilty of a crime", settled as the English word for declaring someone guilty of a crime.

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