conversation English · revision 3581

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1340|origins=la vertō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌkɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃᵊn/, US /ˌkɑːn.vɚˈseɪ.ʃᵊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|conversacioun]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|conversacion|t=behaviour, way of life, monastic life]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and directly [[der|la|conversātiō|t=frequent abode in a place, intercourse]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|conversārī|t=to live, dwell, keep company with]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|com-|t=with]] and [[m|la|versāre]], frequentative of [[m|la|vertere|t=to turn]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to turn, bend]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[converse]].^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Living or having one's being in a place: before 1340 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and the mid-14th century in Etymonline, as “a place where one lives” and “manner of conducting oneself”.^(Etymonline) Both senses are obsolete.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Latin the verb meant to mix with people.^(Cresswell 2021) The word once meant “living among”, and also familiarity or intimacy, as when Milton spoke in 1645 of “wedded conversation”.^(Cresswell 2021) It was a synonym for sexual intercourse from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and ''criminal conversation'' was a legal term for adultery from the late 18th century.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) A circle of acquaintance or company is from 1620.^(OED 1989) The talking sense, an informal exchange of thoughts and words, is from 1580,^(OED 1989) the late 16th century in Word Origins.^(Cresswell 2021) A ''conversation piece'' was a painting of a group as if in conversation (1712) and then a subject for conversation (1784).^(Etymonline) In Scotland a ''conversation lozenge'' was a sweet stamped with a motto.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1340 – living in a place.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1340 – dealings with others.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1511 – sexual intimacy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580 – talk, discourse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620 – company, society.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1712 – ''conversation piece'', a painting.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An informal spoken exchange of thoughts and feelings; a [[talk]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An informal discussion between representatives of governments or organizations.^(AHD)

+ # ''(computing)'' A real-time exchange with a computer.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[conversational]]

+ * [[conversationally]]

+ * [[conversation piece]]

+ * [[criminal conversation]]

+ * [[conversation pit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[converse]]

+ * [[conversant]]

+ * [[convert]]

+ * [[verse]]

+ * [[version]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}