[f. L. convict- ppl. stem of convinc-ĕre (see CONVINCE). Cf. CONVICT ppl. a., which was in use before the other parts of the vb.; the pa. t. was also formerly sometimes convict(e.]
1. trans. To prove (a person) guilty of an offence that makes him liable to legal punishment; spec. to find or declare guilty, after trial before a legal tribunal, by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge. Const. of. (= CONVINCE 4.)
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 75. God techiþ … þat o trewe man, as danyel dede, schal conuycte two false prestis.
1516. in Myrr. our Ladye, p. lix. To haue conuyctyd hym of heresye.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 387. No englishman should be conuicted except by English Judges.
a. 1610. Healey, Theophrastus (1636), 25. Being convicted of theft, he shall be drawn and halled by head and shoulders.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. v. 332. If we believe some historians, they were convicted by sufficient evidence.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 196. Lawrence Earl Ferrers … was convicted and executed for murder, in the year 1760.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VI. 323. The attempts … made by the accusers of Socrates to convict him of treason against the Athenian commonwealth.
† b. with other const. Obs.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XVIII. iii. 108. His wife … by good proofe was convicted to have written the same.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Warres, 468. The Spaniard … was afterwards convicted, that he would by treachery have invaded his Castles upon the Sound.
c. absol.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Compens., Wks. (Bohn), I. 42. If you make the criminal code sanguinary, juries will not convict.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 177. A single justice of the peace might convict without a jury.
2. To prove or declare guilty of reprehensible conduct, error, etc.; now taken as transf. from prec. Const. of († for). (= CONVINCE 4.)
c. 1366. Chaucer, A B C, 86. That he hath in hise lystes of mischaunce Conuict þat ye boþe haue bouht so deere.
1382. Wyclif, Dan. xiii. 61. Danyel hadde conuict [1388 conuyctid] hem of her mouth, for to haue saide fals witnessyng.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 82. Augustin … mad many bokes; convicte many herisies.
1652. F. Hawkins, Youth’s Behav., i. § 32 (1663), 7. That will … convict thee of a desire to have executed it thyself.
1708. J. Partridge (title), ’Squire Bickerstaff detected; or the astrological impostor convicted.
1840. Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, Poems (1850), I. 21. I … look away from Earth which doth convict me.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 136. One could hardly be convicted now of want of sensibility, if [etc.].
b. transf.
1845. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 10. That boundless plain of Languedoc, convicted of all guide-books of being arid, brown, and wholly uninteresting.
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, iv. § 7. 99. I have just convicted the Greek fret of ugliness.
† 3. To prove, establish by proof, as against assertions to the contrary. (= CONVINCE 5.) (Orig. of things blamable.) Obs.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 3. If he be conuicted not to luf, ne to do þe office of Crist.
1558. Kennedy, Tractive, in Wodr. Soc. Misc. (1844), 119. Thir twa argumentis … convictis the generale Counsalis to be the membir of the Congregatioun representand the universale Kirk.
1563. Homilies, II. Rebellion, II. (1859), 565. Convicting such subjects … to be neither good subjects nor good men.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. (1611), 125. Imagining that these or the like proofes will conuict a testament to haue that in it, which other men can no where by reading find.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 137. Cold water may be allowed to those are used to it, on the state and the matter being convicted.
4. To bring conviction or acknowledgement of error home to (a person); to impress with the sense of sinfulness. Cf. CONVICTION 8.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 4 b. Notwithstandynge that theyr owne reason conuicted them.
1611. Bible, John viii. 9. They … being conuicted by their owne conscience, went out one by one.
1624. Fletcher, Wife for Month, IV. i. You are too late convicted to be good yet.
1862. Furnivall, Pref. R. Brunne’s Handl. Synne, 18. You yet speak to us, and convict us of sin as we read your words.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 227. He is supposed to have a mission to convict men of self-conceit.
† 5. To compel (a person) by proof, argument, etc., to acknowledge an assertion, confess an opinion, etc.; = CONVINCE 3. Obs.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. vii. 39. The people were conuicted of Gods mighty working in their behalfe.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., I. iv. (1622), 7. He would … by his owne confession conuict him, that the Common-wealth was but one body.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. i. 3. He did not indubitably believe, untill he was after convicted in the visible example of Abel.
1659. M. Casaubon, Pref. Dee’s Relat. Spir., D j b. If by that time he be not convicted he shall have my good will to give it over.
6. To prove (a doctrine [obs.] or its holders) to be wrong, erroneous, or false; = CONVINCE 6. arch.
1594. [see CONVICTION 3].
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. viii. 122. Which conceit being already convicted, not only by Scaliger, Riolanus and others, but daily confutable almost every where out of England.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 387. To convict, or prove the contrary, refutare.
1705. E. Howard (title), Copernicans of all Sorts Convicted.
1865. Grote, Plato, I. xi. 371. No man shall be able to convict you in dialogue.
† b. To detect and expose (an error, etc.). Obs.
1717. J. Fox, Wanderer (1718), 139. Arguments … sufficient to convict the Fallacy of a desponding Principle.
† 7. To overcome, vanquish, conquer; = CONVINCE 1. Obs. (Cf. CONVICT pa. pple. 5.)
1595. Shaks., John, III. iv. 2. A whole Armado of conuicted saile Is scattered and dis-joyn’d from fellowship.
1607. Pilgr. Princes, 11. [Hippolita] being convicted by Theseus, for her singular stoutnes and courage, was married to him.
Hence Convicting vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1611. Cotgr., Eviction, an eviction, convincement, or convicting.
1865. C. J. Vaughan, Plain Words, xi. (1866), 211. These accusing and convicting consciences.
1868. Daily News, 13 Aug. The belief of the convicting magistrates.
