Etymologically
Log in

conviction

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:58. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kənˈvɪkʃən/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English conviccioun,[2] borrowed from Late Latin convictio (“proof, refutation”),[3][2] from the past participle stem of convincere (“to overcome decisively”) (see convince, convict),[3][4] from com-, perhaps intensive, and vincere (“to conquer”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The proving or finding of guilt of an offence: mid-15th century in Etymonline, 1491 in the OED.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

Proof and confutation are obsolete senses of 1594 and 1646.[5] Bringing a person to recognize a truth is from 1664,[5] and in a religious sense, an awakening of the conscience, from the 1670s.[3] The mental state of being convinced is from 1699 (1690s),[5][3] and a firm belief held as proven from 1841.[3] To carry conviction is from 1817.[5]

Timeline

  • mid-15th century – finding of guilt.[3]
  • 1594 – confutation (obsolete).[5]
  • 1670s – awakening of conscience.[3]
  • 1699 – being convinced.[5]
  • 1841 – a firm belief.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A judgment by a jury or judge that a person is guilty of a crime.
  2. The act of convincing, or the state of being convinced.
  3. A fixed or strong belief.

Word family

  • convictional
  • nonconviction
  • preconviction
  • reconviction

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press