convict

American  

[kuhn-vikt, kon-vikt] / kənˈvɪkt, ˈkɒn vɪkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial.

   to convict a prisoner of a felony.

2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

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noun

1. a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.

2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective

1. Archaic. convicted.

convict British  

verb

1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

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noun

1. a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment

2. a person serving a prison sentence

adjective

1. obsolete convicted

Other Word Forms

• convictable adjective
• convictible adjective
• convictive adjective
• convictively adverb
• preconvict verb (used with object)
• reconvict verb (used with object)
• unconvicting adjective
• unconvictive adjective

Etymology

Origin of convict

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb convicten, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + vic-, variant stem of vincere “to overcome” + -tus past participle suffix; Middle English noun convict “(a) convict,” adjective convict “convicted,” past participle of convicten “to convince” (or directly from Latin ); con-, convince

Related Words

• captive
• felon
• prisoner