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Webster 1913 Edition

Persuasion

Per-sua′sion

,
Noun.
[L.
persuasio
; Cf. F.
persuasion
.]
1.
The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination.
For thou hast all the arts of fine
persuasion
.
Otway.
2.
The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction, which has been induced.
If the general
persuasion
of all men does so account it.
Hooker.
My firm
persuasion
is, at least sometimes,
That Heaven will weigh man’s virtues and his crimes
With nice attention.
Cowper.
3.
A creed or belief; a sect or party adhering to a certain creed or system of opinions;
as, of the same
persuasion
; all
persuasions
are agreed.
Of whatever state or
persuasion
, religious or political.
Jefferson.
4.
The power or quality of persuading; persuasiveness.
Is 't possible that my deserts to you
Can lack
persuasion
?
Shakespeare
5.
That which persuades; a persuasive.
[R.]
Syn. – See
Conviction
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Persuasion

PERSUA'SION

,
Noun.
s as z. [L. persuasio.]
1.
The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by any thing that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination.
For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion.
2.
The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction proceeding from arguments and reasons offered by others, or suggested by one's own reflections.
When we have no other certainty of being in the right, but our own persuasion that we are so--
3.
A creed or belief; or a sect or party adhering to a creed or system of opinions; as men of the same persuasion; all persuasions concur in the measure.

Definition 2024

persuasion

persuasion

See also: persuasión

English

Alternative forms

  • perswasion (obsolete)

Noun

persuasion ‎(plural persuasions)

  1. The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc. [from 14th c.]
    • 2006, Rachel Morris, "Borderline Catastrophe", Washington Monthly, vol. 38:10:
      With the base unleashed, the White House was unable to broker a compromise, either by persuasion or by pressure.
  2. An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone. [from 14th c.]
    • 1928, "The New Pictures", Time, 13 Feb 1928:
      Sadie curses, weeps, then, infected by Mr. Hamilton's writhing persuasions, prays and becomes penitent.
  3. A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief. [from 16th c.]
    It is his persuasion that abortion should never be condoned.
  4. One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness. [from 16th c.]
  5. A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology. [from 17th c.]
    • 2009, US Catholic (letter), May 2009:
      As a convert from the Baptist persuasion more than 40 years ago, I still feel like an outsider in the church despite the kindness and acceptance of Catholic friends.
  6. (colloquial) Any group having a specified characteristic or attribute in common. [from 19th c.]
    • 2010, "We don't need gay stereotypes", The Guardian, 6 Feb 2010:
      Social understanding and equality can neither be nurtured through fear, nor intimidation. Surely this goes for people of all sexual persuasions.

Antonyms

Translations

Derived terms

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɛʁ.sɥa.zjɔ̃/

Etymology

From Latin persuasio, from persuadere, from suadere, "to advise", "to recommend".

Noun

persuasion f ‎(plural persuasions)

  1. persuasion

Etymology

From Middle French persuasion and its source, Latin persuasio, from persuadere, from suadere ‎(“to advise, recommend”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /pəˈsweɪʒ(ə)n/
  • (US) IPA(key): /pɚˈsweɪʒən/

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