PERSUASION • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • 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

... enough, picks and shovels to go round—cela va sans dire. However, Private Mucklewame and others, who are not of the delving persuasion, exhibit no resentment. Digging is not their department. If you hand them a pick and shovel and invite them to set to work, they lay the pick upon the ground beside the trench and proceed to shovel earth over ...

— The First Hundred Thousand • Ian Hay

... the poor woman was madly enamoured of a handsome young man, who seemed to care but little for her—she represented the wife of Pharaoh's Chamberlain, who, burning with love for Joseph, and almost in despair after so much persuasion, finally strips his garment from him with a womanly grace that defies description. This work was esteemed by all to be most beautiful, and it was a great satisfaction to herself, thinking that with this illustration from the Old Testament she had partly quenched ...

— Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects - Vol. 05 ( of 10) Andrea da Fiesole to Lorenzo Lotto • Giorgio Vasari

... therefore, determined to silence this opposition. Just how he did it is not of record. It was said, at the time, that a caucus was held of Clinton's opponents; but, however it was done, it must have required all Van Buren's strength of will and art of persuasion to sustain him in the midst of so many difficulties—difficulties which were greatly increased by the unfriendly conduct of Erastus Root, and two or three senators from the southern district, including Peter Sharpe, afterward speaker ...

— A Political History of the State of New York, Volumes 1-3 • DeAlva Stanwood Alexander

... dare to look for a bird's nest! This is business.' Besides the foot people there come plenty in traps and pony-carriages, and some on horseback, for a certain class of farmers belong to the same persuasion, and there are well-to-do people in the crowd. It is the cast of mind that makes the worshipper, not ...

— Field and Hedgerow • Richard Jefferies

... "ratchet had turned over," but even he was unable to show us how to make the bills after these peculiar gyrations. I also find that it is quite a favorite amusement for indicators to stop entirely, like a balky horse, after which no amount of persuasion will bring them to a realizing sense of ...

— Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883 • Various

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