Third person singular present of convince; persuades someone to believe or do something through reasoning or argument. Causes someone to be certain of the truth or validity of something.
From Latin 'convincere' meaning 'to overcome decisively, prove' combining 'con-' (thoroughly) and 'vincere' (to conquer). The word entered English in the 16th century, initially meaning to overcome or defeat in argument, gradually softening to mean persuade or prove.
The etymology reveals that convincing was originally conceived as a form of intellectual conquest - you 'thoroughly conquered' someone's doubts or opposition. Modern psychology shows that people are actually more convinced by their own conclusions than by external arguments, making the art of convincing more about guiding someone to self-discovery than overwhelming them with facts.
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