conviction

Where does the word "conviction" come from? It comes from Latin vincere, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Conviction’s story begins in Latin: vincere meant “to conquer.” To conquer, combined with com- (thoroughly). Within Latin, it grew into convincere by ancient. To conquer thoroughly, to prove wrong, from com- and vincere. By ancient, Latin speakers had reshaped it into convictio. A proving guilty, a firm belief, from convincere. It reached English by 1400s as conviction. Settled as the English word for a firm belief, or a formal declaration of guilt. Today, conviction means a firmly held belief, or a formal finding of guilt in a court of law.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vincere "to conquer", to conquer, combined with com- (thoroughly).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient convincere "to conquer thoroughly, to prove wrong", to conquer thoroughly, to prove wrong, from com- and vincere.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient convictio "a proving guilty, a firm belief", a proving guilty, a firm belief, from convincere.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s conviction "a firm belief, or a formal declaration of guilt in court", settled as the English word for a firm belief, or a formal declaration of guilt.