convince

Where does the word "convince" come from? It comes from Latin convincere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Convince’s story begins in Latin: convincere meant “to conquer thoroughly, to prove.” To conquer thoroughly, to prove, from com- (thoroughly) and vincere (to conquer). It reached English by 1500s as convince. Settled as the English word for persuading someone through argument or evidence. Today, convince means to persuade someone that something is true through argument or evidence.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient convincere "to conquer thoroughly, to prove", to conquer thoroughly, to prove, from com- (thoroughly) and vincere (to conquer).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s convince "to persuade someone through argument or evidence", settled as the English word for persuading someone through argument or evidence.