Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-VINCE', v.t. [convins'; L. convinco; con and vinco, to vanquish; Sp. convencer; It. convincere; Fr. convaincre.]

1. To persuade or satisfy the mind by evidence; to subdue the opposition of the mind to truth, or to what is alledged, and compel it to yield its assent; as, to convince a man of his errors; or to convince him of the truth. For he mightily convinced the Jews, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. – Acts xviii.
2. To convict; to prove guilty; to constrain one to admit or acknowledge himself to be guilty. If ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of [by] the law as transgressors. – James ii. To convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds. – Jude 15.
3. To convince; to prove. [Obs.] – Shak.
4. To overpower; to surmount; to vanquish. [Obs.] – Shak.