v. [ad. L. condūc-ĕre to lead together, collect, unite, connect; also, to hire, contract for; also of things, to contribute, be serviceable, conduce; f. con- together + dūcĕre to lead, draw. This L. verb, which became in F. conduire (with lengthened stem conduis-), has given many representatives in English, viz. 1. condue, condye (through Fr.), with 2. the shortened cond; 3. conduce; 4. conduyte (through Fr.); 5. conduct: the last two from the ppl. stem conduct-. Of these cond, conduce, conduct, survive in differentiated senses.]
† 1. trans. To lead, conduct, bring (lit. and fig.). Const. to. Obs.
c. 1475. Partenay, Prol. 206. Here I hym require To thys nede me ayde; and hys moder swet Mi mater conduce to the ende.
1514. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 101. By cause that I shuld conduce home my said Lords companye.
1527. Wolsey, to Hen. VIII., in St. Papers (R.). Ther was sent unto my lodging the cardinall of Bourbon, &c. to conduce me to my ladies presence.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 160. To conduce things to some order out of this chaos of confusion.
1651. Reliq. Wotton., 95. To conduce hither the most lovely and vertuous princesse.
1658. T. Meriton, Love & War, IV. i. I am conduc’d by willingnesse to dye.
† b. To bring together, contribute. Obs.
1717. Bentley, Serm., xi. 377. They conduce every one it’s share to the … Beauty of the whole.
† 2. (Sc.) To engage for money or other consideration; to hire. Const. inf. with to, or simply.
1502. Will of Bromfeld (Somerset Ho.). That my executors conduce and wage an honest preest … to syng, [etc.].
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), i. 256. He conducit ane gret nowmer of schippis and weirmen, part with the riches he wan in the weris of Italy … to cum in Albioun.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Robt. I., 35. He quha is conduced be prayer, or be price.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1677), 330. Gowry … conducing a ship gave out that he would forthwith depart.
1689. trans. Buchanan’s De Jure Regni, 37. Who for greater gain may be conduced to fight.
† 3. To bring about, bring to effect. Obs.
1518. Wolsey, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. i. 21. Your provident dexterity in the wise conducing of these his weighty matters. Ibid. (1527), to Hen. VIII., in St. Papers (R.). For the conducing and setting forthe of good amitie and peace betwene your highnes and her son.
1529. in Burnet, Hist. Ref., II. 96. For conducing the Kings purpose.
† 4. intr. To lead. Const. to. Obs. rare.
1624. [Scott], Votivæ Angliæ, Ded. 1. As so many Lynes conducing to their Centre.
5. To conduce to: to lead or tend towards (a result); to aid in bringing about, contribute to, make for, further, promote, subserve. (The current sense.)
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretarie, I. (1625), 133. Much may the evill example of some lewdly given, conduce hereunto.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. ii. 168. The Reasons you alledge, do more conduce To the hot passion of distemp’red blood, Then to make vp a free determination.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 79. How circumstances conduce severally to the production of effects.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 257. The well-working and bonding of Brick-walls conduces very much to their strength.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 65. In all the virtues which conduce to success in life, the Scots have never been surpassed.
b. with person as subj. rare.
1879. Green, Read. Eng. Hist., xix. 99. He was resolved not to conduce to what he considered idolatry.
c. Const. inf. with to.
1606. [see above].
a. 1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 352. The Boaring of Holes in that kinde of Wood … seemeth to conduce to make it Shine.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. vii. 126. Means very undesireable, often conduce to bring about Ends … desireable.
† d. Const. with. Obs. rare–1.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. xxxiii. (1739), 51. As might best conduce with the benefit of the Inhabitants.
† 6. a. To be profitable or advantageous (to). Obs.
1621–1728. [see CONDUCING ppl. a. 2].
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 124/2. These conduce much to the wise.
† b. trans. To be advantageous to, to profit. Obs. rare.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 6. Any thing that may conduce and benefite the mystical bodie.
¶ Of uncertain meaning: ? intr. (for refl.) ‘conducts itself, carries itself on, goes on.’
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. ii. 147. Within my soule, there doth conduce a fight Of this strange nature, that a thing inseperate, Diuides more wider then the skie and earth.
