Obs. exc. Hist. [f. L. convent- ppl. stem of convenī-re to come together, CONVENE: cf. prevent.]
1. intr. To come together, assemble, meet; = CONVENE 1; to enter into a convention.
1544. in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), II. 402. The lords convented in the fratre of the said graie ffreers.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 48/1. Unneth the Christians could safelie conuent in their owne houses. Ibid., 144/1. Crescentius with the people and clergie conventing against the said Gregorie, set up John the 18th.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. liii. (1611), 239. And each one to a divers Sect conuents.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xxv. (1611), 180. Many Beasts did often conuent together at some Riuer to drinke.
a. 1657. R. Loveday, Lett. (1663), 50. The Trees convented to chuse them a King.
2. trans. To cause to come together; to assemble (persons or a body); = CONVENE 3.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 56. The king … conventyng hys nobles and Clarkes together.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. ii. 59. We are conuented vpon a pleasing Treatie.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, II. 8. Command him to convent His whole host arm’d before these towers.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., I. (ed. 2), 12. How the Parliament shall be summoned and convented by the Lords, Commons, and great Officers of the Realme themselves.
3. To cause (persons) to come or appear; to call to a meeting or interview, to summon.
1540–1. Elyot, Image Gov. (1556), 157. For that cause onely [he] had often times convented him whan he repayred into that country.
1606. Holland, Sueton., 5. He convented Q. Catullus before the body of the people to receive their order.
1625. Bp. Mountagu, App. Cæsar., 24. I must yet convent your honesty somewhat further.
a. 1659. Osborn, Ess., i. (1673), 553. The King … upon his arrival convented the Boy.
b. spec. To summon before a judge or tribunal, for trial or examination.
1514. Fitzherb., Just. Peas (1538), 139 b. The … partie greved may convent the partie so offendinge before his ordinarie or other judge.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 17. The great daye of the Lorde, when all flesh shall be conuented before the tribunall seate of God.
1649. Prynne, Demurrer, 37. A certain English Knight decreed to convent a Jew … before the Judges.
1718. Bp. Hutchinson, Witchcraft, xv. (1720), 241. She was convented before Mr. Wotton.
c. With the judge or tribunal understood: To summon, to cite; to summon on a charge of.
1548. Act 2–3 Edw. VI., c. 13 § 13. The Party … may and shall be convented and sued in the King’s Ecclesiastical Court.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 295 b. The Emperour is convented of heresie.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 66. The Commons have convented Flood, examyned him, and sentenced him.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., IV. l. 275. Meantime, the owner and master of the ship were convented, and forced to promise not to land the tea.
† 4. ? To agree or covenant to give: cf. convention, and covenant. Obs.
1587. in Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees), 145. Whereas I convented in mariage with my doughter Meryall the some of 300l., whereof my sonne-in-lawe William Wycliffe, hir husband, hath allready receved 200l.
¶ 5. In the following taken by some to mean ‘To be convenient, fit, suit’ (= CONVENE 6); but sense 3. ‘To summon, call together,’ is possible. Obs.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., V. i. 391. When that is knowne, and golden time conuents A solemne Combination shall be made Of our deere soules.
