converse

¹

[kuhn-vurs, kon-vurs]

verb (used without object)

conversed, conversing 

1. to talk informally with another or others; exchange views, opinions, etc., by talking.

   Synonyms: jaw, gab, talk, confer, chat

2. Archaic.,  to maintain a familiar association (usually followed bywith ).

3. Obsolete.,  to have sexual intercourse (usually followed bywith ).

noun

1. familiar discourse or talk; conversation.

converse

²

[kuhn-vurs, kon-vurs, kon-vurs]

adjective

1. opposite or contrary in direction, action, sequence, etc.; turned around.

noun

1. something opposite or contrary.

2. Logic.

   1. a proposition obtained from another proposition by conversion.

   2. the relation between two terms, one of which is related to the other in a given manner, as “younger than” to “older than.”

3. a group of words correlative with a preceding group but having a significant pair of terms interchanged, as “hot in winter but cold in summer” and “cold in winter but hot in summer.”

Converse

³

[kon-vurs]

noun

1. Frederick Shepherd 1871–1940, U.S. composer.

converse

¹

verb

1. to engage in conversation (with)

2. to commune spiritually (with)

3. obsolete

   1. to associate; consort

   2. to have sexual intercourse

noun

1. conversation (often in the phrase hold converse with )

2. obsolete

   1. fellowship or acquaintance

   2. sexual intercourse

converse

²

/ ˈkɒnvɜːs /

adjective

1. (prenominal) reversed; opposite; contrary

noun

1. something that is opposite or contrary

2. logic

   1. a categorical proposition obtained from another by the transposition of subject and predicate, as no bad man is bald from no bald man is bad

   2. a proposition so derived, possibly by weakening a universal proposition to the corresponding particular, as some socialists are rich from all rich men are socialists

3. logic maths a relation that holds between two relata only when a given relation holds between them in reverse order: thus father of is the converse of son of

Other Word Forms

• converser noun
• conversely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of converse¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English conversen, from Middle French converser, from Latin conversārī “to associate with”; con-, verse

Origin of converse²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English convers, from Anglo-French or directly from Latin conversus, past participle of convertere “to turn around,” equivalent to con- “with, together” + vert- “to turn” + -tus past participle suffix; convert ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of converse¹

C16: from Old French converser, from Latin conversārī to keep company with, from conversāre to turn constantly, from vertere to turn

Origin of converse²

C16: from Latin conversus turned around; see _converse ¹

Synonym Study

See speak.

Example Sentences

Baruch was familiar with the loneliness that accompanies addiction, and in 2010 began to converse with homeless individuals resting outside gas stations or convenient stores over a cup of coffee.

From Los Angeles Times

Below the cliff where Arisu and this gentleman converse lies a vast body of churning water with a foreboding whirlpool at its heart.

From Salon

These people might look like they’re conversing, having lively battles of collegiate wit, stereotypical of an Ivy League institution.

From Salon

Weber, who shares several scenes with Kotsur where they converse in sign language, said he was awed when he met the Oscar winner on the first day of rehearsals.

From Los Angeles Times

Subconsciously hearing the words of Shakespeare, Wednesday’s mind travels to a spooky dream state where she converses with a spirit guide and is then told to “wake up,” which she does.

From Salon