v. Obs. [ad. L. convell-ĕre to wrench up, overthrow, shatter, f. con- intensive + vellĕre to tear, pull, pluck. Cf. CONVULSE.]
1. lit. To tear, wrench. rare.
1638. A. Read, Chirurg., x. 75. The muscles appointed for respiration, being also convelled.
1657–94. [see CONVELLED, etc. below].
2. fig. To overthrow or refute completely.
1536. Articles Relig., p. xvii. Such as neither ought ne can be altered or convelled by any contrary opinion.
1657. Hawke, Killing is Murder, Pref. To convel, and confute, this pestilent and perilous Libel.
1724. Wodrow Corr. (1843), III. 111. It’s impossible to convell the material facts he has set down.
Hence Convelled, Convelling vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 318. Broken and convelled nerves.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, viii. 187. For conuelling … of this vaine custome.
1694. Phil. Trans., XVIII. 24. Very strong irritations in the Members of the Body, by convelling of their Muscular Fibres.
