PERSUASION • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Persuasion

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/pərswˈeɪʒən/ Listen

noun

Persuasion n.

The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination. "For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion."

The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction, which has been induced. "If the general persuasion of all men does so account it." "My firm persuasion is, at least sometimes, That Heaven will weigh man's virtues and his crimes With nice attention."

A creed or belief; a sect or party adhering to a certain creed or system of opinions; as, of the same persuasion; all persuasions are agreed. "Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political."

The power or quality of persuading; persuasiveness. "Is 't possible that my deserts to you Can lack persuasion?"

That which persuades; a persuasive. (R.)

Synonyms: See Conviction.

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Etymology of 'Persuasion'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Persuasion" Quotes from Famous Books

... fellow," said Darrell, "but I cannot imagine how you ever gained Mrs. Dean's consent to his presence here. You must possess even more than the ordinary powers of feminine persuasion." ...

— At the Time Appointed • A. Maynard Barbour

... appear to resent the thrust. She went on, in the same tone of affectionate persuasion: "Yes: I must have seemed to you too subject to Givre. Perhaps I have been. But you know that was not my real object in asking you to wait, to say nothing to your grandmother before ...

— The Reef • Edith Wharton

... he had pity on him, and there left him to take his chance, when presently up comes a big hairy bear, limping upon three legs. The Prince, poor fellow, climbed up a tree, frightened of him, but the bear told him to come down, that it was no use of him to stop there. With hard persuasion poor Jack comes down, and the bear speaks to him and bids him "Come here to me; I will not do you any harm. It's better for you to come with me and have some refreshments; I know that you are ...

— More English Fairy Tales • Various

... which shall be provided according to law.' And it authorises under certain regulations the establishment of a separate school for Protestants or Roman Catholics, as the case may be, when the teacher of the common school is of the opposite persuasion. ...

— Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin • James, Eighth Earl of Elgin

... of America, were we unconcernedly to see or to suffer any treasonable wound, public or private, directly or indirectly, to be given against the peace and safety of the same. We inquire not into the rank of the offenders, nor into their religious persuasion; we have no business with either, our part being only to find them out ...

— The Writings Of Thomas Paine, Complete - With Index to Volumes I - IV • Thomas Paine

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