PERSUADE

persuade

(verb) cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody’s arm; “You can’t persuade me to buy this ugly vase!”

carry, persuade, sway

(verb) win approval or support for; “Carry all before one”; “His speech did not sway the voters”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

persuade (third-person singular simple present persuades, present participle persuading, simple past and past participle persuaded)

(transitive) To successfully convince (someone) to agree to, accept, or do something, usually through reasoning and verbal influence. [from 15th c.]

Antonyms: deter, dissuade

(transitive, obsolete) To convince of by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe (something). [15th–18th c.]

(transitive, now, rare, regional) To urge, plead; to try to convince (someone to do something). [from 16th c.]

Synonyms

• convince

Source: Wiktionary


Per*suade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persuaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Persuading.] Etym: [L. persuadere, persuasum; per + suadere to advise, persuade: cf. F. persuader. See Per-, and Suasion.]

1. To influence or gain over by argument, advice, entreaty, expostulation, etc.; to draw or incline to a determination by presenting sufficient motives. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28. We will persuade him, be it possible. Shak.

2. To try to influence. [Obsolescent] Hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you. 2 Kings xviii. 32.

3. To convince by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe. Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you. Heb. vi. 9.

4. To inculcate by argument or expostulation; to advise; to recommend. Jer. Taylor.

Syn.

– To convince; induce; prevail on; win over; allure; entice. See Convince.

Per*suade", v. i.

Definition: To use persuasion; to plead; to prevail by persuasion. Shak.

Per*suade", n.

Definition: Persuasion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

26 June 2025

DISPIRITEDLY

(adverb) in a dispirited manner without hope; “the first Mozartian opera to be subjected to this curious treatment ran dispiritedly for five performances”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, the seeds of berries from certain Coffea species. When coffee berries turn from green to bright red – indicating ripeness – they are picked, processed, and dried. Dried coffee seeds are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor.

coffee icon