converse
EnglishEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From Old French converser, from Latin conversor (“live, have dealings with”).
PronunciationEdit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kənˈvɜːs/
- (US) enPR: kənvûrs', IPA(key): /kənˈvɝs/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)s
Audio (UK) (file)
VerbEdit
converse (third-person singular simple present converses, present participle conversing, simple past and past participle conversed)
- (formal, intransitive) To talk; to engage in conversation.
- Synonyms: (nonstandard) conversate, (informal) convo
- c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
- 1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, John Dryden, transl., De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC:
- We had conversed so often on that subject.
- (followed by with) To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune.
- 1727, James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
- To seek the distant hills, and there converse
With nature.
- 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
- Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions.
- 1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion
- (obsolete) To have knowledge of (a thing), from long intercourse or study.
- 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
- according as the objects they converse with afford greater or less variety
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
to engage in conversation
|
NounEdit
converse
- (now literary) Free verbal interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.
- 1728, Edward Young, Love of Fame, the Universal Passion, Satire V, On Women, lines 44-46:
- Twice ere the sun descends, with zeal inspir'd, / From the vain converse of the world retir'd, / She reads the psalms and chapters for the day […]
- 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 177:
- She had around her gay converse, in which she had no share; and laughter, in which she was little tempted to join.
- 1919, Saki, ‘The Disappearance of Crispina Umerleigh’, The Toys of Peace, Penguin 2000 (Complete Short Stories), p. 405:
- In a first-class carriage of a train speeding Balkanward across the flat, green Hungarian plain, two Britons sat in friendly, fitful converse.
- 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1965, →OCLC, page 26:
- [S]uch was the aberration of mind attending converse with a successful draper.
- 1728, Edward Young, Love of Fame, the Universal Passion, Satire V, On Women, lines 44-46:
Etymology 2Edit
From Latin conversus (“turned around”), past participle of converto (“turn about”).
PronunciationEdit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɒnvɜːs/
Audio (UK) (file)
- (US) enPR: kŏn'vûrs, IPA(key): /ˈkɑnvɝs/
AdjectiveEdit
converse (not comparable)
- opposite; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal
- a converse proposition
NounEdit
converse (plural converses)
- The opposite or reverse.
- (logic) Of a proposition or theorem of the form: given that "If A is true, then B is true", then "If B is true, then A is true.".
- All trees are plants, but the converse, that all plants are trees, is not true.
- (semantics) One of a pair of terms that name or describe a relationship from opposite perspectives; converse antonym; relational antonym.
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
opposite
|
proposition of the specific form
|
AnagramsEdit
FrenchEdit
PronunciationEdit
Audio (file)
AdjectiveEdit
converse f sg
VerbEdit
converse
- inflection of converser:
ItalianEdit
Alternative formsEdit
- convergé (rare)
VerbEdit
converse
- third-person singular past historic of convergere
AnagramsEdit
LatinEdit
ParticipleEdit
converse
PortugueseEdit
VerbEdit
converse
- inflection of conversar:
SpanishEdit
PronunciationEdit
VerbEdit
converse
- inflection of conversar: