Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “convince” come from?

Convince comes from Latin convincere, from con- "together" and vincere "to conquer or overcome," originally meaning to overcome or refute completely.

convince (English): To make someone believe, or feel sure about...

Definitions

  1. To make someone believe, or feel sure about...

Ancestry of “convince”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinconvincō—
2Latincōn-—
3Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
4Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
5Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
8Middle Englishkyt—
9Germankitt—
10Old High Germankuti—
11Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
12Proto-Germanickweduzresin
13Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
14Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “convince”

  • convincement
  • convinceth
  • convincer
  • convincible
  • reconvince
  • inconvincible
  • unconvince
  • unconvinceable
  • unconvincible
  • convinceable
  • convincest
  • inconvincibly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →