convert English · revision 7626

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la converto}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɑn.vɚt/, /kənˈvɝt/; /ˈkɒn.vət/, /kənˈvɜːt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English converten, [[bor|fro|convertir|t=to turn round; change; win over]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Vulgar Latin *convertire, from Latin [[m|la|converto|alt=convertere|t=to turn around, transform]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from com-, intensive, and [[m|la|verto|alt=vertere|t=to turn]] (see [[verse]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from PIE [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to turn, bend]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To turn from one religion to another, especially to Christianity: about 1300.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English glossed the Latin verb with gecyrran, to turn.^(Etymonline) To turn a thing about, give it a different direction, is from 1382,^(OED 1989) and to change into another form or substance from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) To turn to another use is from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) The noun, a person who has changed religion, is from 1561 (the 1560s),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) replacing earlier convers (before 1325, in the ''Cursor Mundi'').^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A person converted to another opinion is from the 1640s.^(Etymonline) To express a quantity in other units is a mathematical sense.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to change religion.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1325 – convers (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to transform.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1561 – convert (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1640s – a convert to an opinion.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To change into another form, [[substance]] or state; to [[transform]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To adapt to a different use or purpose.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To persuade someone to adopt a [[religion]] or belief, or to adopt one.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To exchange for something of equal value, as one currency for another.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who has been converted, especially to a religion or belief.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[convertive]]

+ * [[convertor]]

+ * [[interconvert]]

+ * [[preconvert]]

+ * [[reconvert]]

+ * [[converter]]

+ * [[convertible]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[conversion]]

+ * [[converse]]

+ * [[verse]]

+ * [[version]]

+ * [[vertex]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}