*convince*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Convinced p. pr. & vb. n. Convincing. ] [ L. convincere, -victum, to refute, prove; con- + vincere to conquer. See Victor, and cf. Convict. ] 1. To overpower; to overcome; to subdue or master. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To overcome by argument; to force to yield assent to truth; to satisfy by proof. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such convincing proofs and assurances of it as might enable them to convince others. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To confute; to prove the fallacy of. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

God never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To prove guilty; to convict. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Which of you convinceth me of sin? John viii. 46. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seek not to convince me of a crime
Which I can ne'er repent, nor you can pardon. Dryden.

Syn. -- To persuade; satisfy; convict. -- To Convince, persuade. To convince is an act of the understanding; to persuade, of the will or feelings. The one is effected by argument, the other by motives. There are cases, however, in which persuade may seem to be used in reference only to the assent of the understanding; as when we say, I am persuaded it is so; I can not persuade myself of the fact. But in such instances there is usually or always a degree of awakened feeling which has had its share in producing the assent of the understanding. [ 1913 Webster ]