[a. F. convention, or ad. L. conventiōn-em meeting, assembly, covenant, n. of action f. convenīre to come together.]
I. The action of convening.
† 1. The action of coming together, meeting, or assembling. Obs.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xiv. 50. But Iuno … wolde speke to the goddesse Venus for to doo conuencyon of Eneas wyth the sayd Dydo.
1572. Forrest, Theophilus, 1129, in Anglia, VII. We … haue at this season cawsed this convention.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 543. Diuers Princes … haue often made their residence in this Towne … but now for want of that generall conuention, the Castle … is greatly decayed.
1641–. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 25. In this place of convention of merchants from all parts of the world.
1782. V. Knox, Ess. (1819), I. xlii. 239. An audience whose convention in a church is a proof that they already believe it.
2. The action of summoning an assembly.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. (1843), 53/1. In this interval, between the sealing the writs and the convention of the parliament, the lord keeper Coventry died.
1861. Stanley, East. Ch., v. (1869), 181. The settlement of the general controversies which gave occasion to the Council’s convention.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. iii. 14. Thenceforth the Convention of Parliament, when the Crown required aids, became frequent.
† 3. The action of summoning before a judge or other person in authority. Obs.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VI. iv. § 2. Transgressors were not from the time of their first convention capable of the holy mysteries.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 88. The like proces sould be keiped, and observed in the breive of convention; quhereof this is the forme.
1619. Brent, trans. Sarpi’s Hist. Counc. Trent (1676), 332. Convention before the Ordinary, in criminal and mixt causes.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 274. They are demanded or sued for by Convention, that is to say by convening, and commencing a suit against, the Party.
b. In the University of Cambridge, the ‘convening’ of a student before the college authorities. (Not an official term.)
1811. Byron, Hints from Horace, 231. Fines, tutors, tasks, conventions threat in vain.
4. An assembly or gathering of persons for some common object; esp. a formal assembly met for deliberation or legislation on important matters, ecclesiastical, political, or social.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 4471. For Christ, in his last conuentioun, The day of his Ascentioun, Tyll his Disciplis gaif command.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., II. v. (1588), 183. All these conuentions may be without any apparent shew of Assemblie against the Peace.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. viii. 10. Not in the ear of a popular convention.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., ii. § 9. Conventions for prayer.
1651. Hobbes, Govt. & Soc., vi. § 17. 103. If that suffice not, they may call a new convention of estates.
1712. Parnell, Spect., No. 460, ¶ 10. The Propriety of their [the Mahometans] Demeanour in the Conventions of their erroneous Worship.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1839), 109. The prince of Orange proposed in the council, that … she should summon a convention of the States.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), I. II. i. 107. Councils were only occasional diets, or general conventions, not a standing representative Senate of Christendom.
1886. Morley, Expans. Eng., Crit. Misc. III. 203. When a colonial convention presses the diplomacy of the mother-country and prompts its foreign policy.
5. spec. a. Eng. Hist. Applied to certain extraordinary assemblies of the Houses of Parliament, without the summons of the Sovereign; viz. that of 1660, which restored Charles II., and that of 1688, which declared the throne abdicated by James II. Hence convention parliament, a parliament constituted of such a convention.
1660. Trial Regic., 52. That none of us do own that Convention, whatsoever it be, to be the Parliament of England.
1688. Evelyn, Diary, 26 Dec. Till a Convention of Lords and Commons should meete in full body. Ibid. (1689), 15 Jan. The greate Convention being assembled the day before … resolved that K. James … had by demise abdicated himself. Ibid., 19 July. The Convention (or Parliament as some call’d it) sitting.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), II. xi. 323. Charles now dissolved the convention parliament.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ix. viii. 675. In 1689, the Convention declared itself a Parliament.
b. In Scotland: Convention of estates (Hist.): a meeting of the Estates of the kingdom of Scotland (before the Union), upon any special occasion or emergency, without the formal summons which was required for a regular parliament. Convention of royal burghs: a yearly meeting of commissioners from the royal burghs held in Edinburgh.
1572. Sempill Ballates (1872), 149. Becaus I hard of ane Conuention Now to be maid for this dissentioun That is into this land.
1689. Claverhouse in M. Morris, Life, ix. (1888), 163. While I attended the Convention at Edinburgh.
1689. Balcarres, in M. Morris, Claverhouse, ix. (1888), 158. To leave Edinburgh and to call a Convention of Estates at Stirling.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. III. 195. Another convention of estates was held in May.
1802. Scott, Song, ‘Bonnie Dundee,’ i. To the Lords of Convention ’twas Claver’se who spoke.
1873. M. MacArthur, Hist. Scot., vii. 154. A deputation … was sent to him [Will. of Orange], to pray him to call a Convention of the Estates. Ibid. The Convention then turned itself into a Parliament.
1876. Jas. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scot., II. xiii. 363. The collective wisdom and learning of Scotland, including Parliament, privy council, convention of royal burghs, and the ministry of Edinburgh.
c. U.S. An assembly of delegates or representatives for some special or occasional purpose.
(a.) In a general sense (see 4): applied to several assemblies of historic note, as the Convention of Congregational Ministers of Massachusetts organized early in the 18th c.; the Albany Convention of 1754, the first movement of the colonies towards concerted action; the American Convention of Abolitionists, founded in 1793; the Hartford Convention of 1814, with a view to the possible division of the Union; etc. Joint convention: the meeting in one body of both branches of Congress or of a State legislature.
(b.) In Law, A body constituted by statute to represent the people in their primary relations, and in some sense outside of the constitution, as e.g., for the framing or amending of the constitution itself (Constitutional Convention). In this sense, applied to the body of delegates from the several states which framed the federal constitution in 1787; also, to a body meeting under authority of Congress to frame a constitution for a new state, or convened by a state legislature, in the manner prescribed by law, to revise the constitution of the state.
(c.) In party politics, a meeting of delegates of a political party (National Convention of the Republican or the Democratic Party) to nominate candidates for the presidency of the U.S., or for state or local offices.
(d.) The title of the triennial assembly (General Convention) of the American Episcopal Church (corresponding in some respects to Convocation in England), and of the annual diocesan assemblies (Diocesan Conventions) of the same.
(a) a. 1720. in Mem. Hist. Boston, II. 223. The ‘Convention of Congregational Ministers’ was organized. In 1720 they ‘Voted’ [etc.].
1754. Franklin, Wks. (1887), II. 355. Plan of Union Adopted by the Convention at Albany.
1793. Mem. Pennsylv. Soc. for Abol. Slavery, 41. That the Society … will appoint Delegates to the proposed Convention, provided a majority of the Abolition Societies in the United States do agree.
1814. Niles’ Register, 12 Nov., 155. Against the resolution proposing a convention of delegates from the New-England States [at Hartford] and the resolutions connected therewith.
1865. N. Y. Nation, 14 Sept., 330. If the Englishman can initiate no public enterprise without a public dinner, the American is equally helpless until he has called a convention.
1891. Boston Jrnl., 13 Nov., 9/1. The great national convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union opened in Tremont Temple this morning.
(b) 1783. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), I. 256. Have a convention of the states to form a better constitution.
1787. Washington, To Madison, Wks. (ed. Ford), XI. 131. Congress have recommended to the States to appear in the convention proposed to be holden in Philadelphia next May.
1787. J. Barlow, Oration, 4 July, 11. Much is expected from the Foederal Convention now sitting at Philadelphia.
1789. Constit. U. S., vii. Done in convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present.
1825. T. Jefferson, Autobiog., Wks. 1859, I. 18. Within a few days, the convention of New York approved of it.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., I. App. 539. It is always by a convention (i.e. a representative body called together for some occasional or temporary purpose) that a constitution is framed.
(c) 1817. Niles’ Register, 5 April, 96. At a convention of the republican members of the legislature of New York … at Albany on the 25th ult. … held for the purpose of nominating a suitable person to be supported for the office of governor of the state. Ibid. (1831), 1 Oct., 74. The anti-masonic convention, to nominate a president and vice-president of the United States, met in this city [Baltimore] on Monday last.
1891. Boston Jrnl., 25 Nov., 3/1. A National Republican Convention of delegated representatives of the Republican party will be held at the city of Minneapolis on the 7th June, 1892, at 12 o’clock noon, for the purpose of nominating candidates for President and Vice President.
(d) 1785. Constit. of Oct., in Perry, Hist. Amer. Episc. Ch., II. 99. There shall be a general Convention of the Protestant Epl Church in ye Ud States of America; which shall be held … once in three years.
1890. M. Townsend, ‘U.S.,’ 446. The first Episcopal Convention held in the United States was convened at Philadelphia in 1789.
d. National Convention: (a) the sovereign assembly which governed France from Sept. 21, 1792, to Oct. 26, 1795; (b) the name of an assembly of the English Chartists in 1833.
1792. Gent. Mag., Aug., 759. The French Nation is invited to form a National Convention.
1793. Mad. D’Arblay, Lett., 22 Feb. The aristocrats … hold the Constitutionalists in greater horror than the Convention itself.
1848. W. E. Forster, Diary, 16 April, in T. W. Reid, Life (1888), I. vii. 224. The delegates of the National Convention talked pikes and armed processions and all manner of horrors.
1880. S. Walpole, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 221. [In 1833] a meeting was summoned in Coldbath Fields to pave the way for the formation of a National Convention.
† 6. fig. Of things: Assemblage, gathering, union. Obs.
1592. R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 63. Euerie partition and elegant conuention of exquisite Lineaments.
1613. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. i. Within, all vertues have convention.
1651. Howell, Venice, 32. Venice is no other than a Convention of little Ilands peeping up above the Waters.
1685. Boyle, Enq. Notion Nat., 65. They … believ’d all things to have been made by the Atoms, considered as their Conventions and Concretions into the Sun, Stars, Earth, and other Bodies.
1698. Crowne, Caligula, III. 19. ’Tis a convention in his sacred frame Of divine atoms.
II. Agreement, conventional usage.
7. An agreement or covenant between parties.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xl. 161 (Harl. MS.). For the trespas that I haue made ayenst youre conuencion.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 166 b. Theyr eares also hath made a conuencyon or conande with reason.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 6 March. My wife is come to convention with me, that, whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give her as much.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 47. Though society had not it’s formal beginning from any convention of individuals.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., I. ii. § 3. 50. There were frequently, especially upon ecclesiastical lands, farmers holding land under conventions or covenants.
b. An agreement creating legal relations.
1513–4. Act 5 Hen. VIII., c. 1. Preamb., Notaries … to … recorde the Knowlege of all contractes bargeyns convencions factes and agrementes … made within the seid Citie.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl. O. T., VIII. v. Fraudulent conventions oblige not.
1832. Austin, Jurispr. (1879), II. 1016. In the language of the English Law ‘convention’ or ‘covenant’ is restricted to … contracts of a subordinate species: namely to a species of that species of contracts which are evidenced by writing under seal.
1875. Poste, Gaius, III. Comm. (ed. 2), 360. A Contract is a convention or agreement … enforceable by appeal to a court of judicature.
c. = CONVENTIONARY tenure.
1828. Ld. Tenterden, in Concanen, Rep., 322 (Rowe v. Brenton). The conventionary tenant is said to take his tenement in free convention for seven years from Michaelmas.
1828. Barnewall & Cressw., Rep., VIII. 746 (Rowe v. Brenton). To hold their tenements by the foresaid servile services in native convention, at the will of the lord, during the term aforesaid.
8. spec. a. In Diplomacy: An agreement between sovereigns or states: formerly = TREATY; now applied to an agreement of less formality or importance than a treaty.
Such are international arrangements about postage, telegraphs, or literary rights; monetary conventions for an international coinage; the Geneva Conventions of 1864 and 1865, providing for the neutralization of ambulances and hospitals, and for the protection of civilians rendering help to the sick and wounded, etc.
a. [c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VI. xvii. 71. Or gyve any Conuentyoun Wes trettyd of successyoune … Betwene hym and Edmund Irnesyde.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 159. In the ȝere of Henry 46 was convencion mad betwix the Kyng of Frauns and him.]
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 195. In which wing were also placed the Christian soldiers sent by Lazarus out of Servia, according to the late conuention of peace.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 166. Postal conventions.
1888. Act 51 & 52 Vict. An Act to carry into effect an International Convention respecting the Liquor traffic in the North Sea.
1888. T. E. Holland, in Encycl. Brit., s.v. Treaties, In the language of modern diplomacy the term ‘treaty’ is restricted to the more important international agreements … while agreements dealing with subordinate questions are described by the more general term ‘convention.’
b. Mil. An agreement made between the commanders of opposing armies for the evacuation of some post or country, the suspension of hostilities, or the exchange of prisoners.
b. 1780. T. Jefferson, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), III. 155. I believe the Convention of Saratoga entitles them to keep the horses they then had.
1812. Byron, Notes to Ch. Har., I. xxiv. The Convention of Cintra was signed in the palace of the Marchese Marialva.
1814. Wellington, 27 May, in Gurw., Disp., XII. 29. The conventions for suspending hostilities agreed upon by me with Marshals Soult and Suchet.
9. General agreement or consent, deliberate or implicit, as constituting the origin and foundation of any custom, institution, opinion, etc., or as embodied in any accepted usage, standard of behavior, method of artistic treatment, or the like.
1778. Robertson, Hist. Amer., II. VII. 289. They had invented artificial marks, or signs of convention, for this purpose.
1797. J. Lawrence, in Monthly Mag., XLVI. 112. Moral truth is co-essential with universal nature, independent of all authority and convention.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. lviii. 235. One family, by nature, or by convention.
1872. F. Hall, Exempl. False Philol., 58. As all are alike legitimate formations, it is for convention to decide which we are to prefer.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol. vi. 218. The Greeks contented themselves with discussing whether language had originated by convention or by nature.
b. In a bad sense: Accepted usage become artificial and formal, and felt to be repressive of the natural in conduct or art: conventionalism.
1847. Tennyson, Princ., Prol. 128. There are thousands now Such women, but convention beats them down.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Dom. Life, Wks. (Bohn), III. 55. He who shall bravely … subdue this Gorgon of Convention and Fashion.
10. A rule or practice based upon general consent, or accepted and upheld by society at large; an arbitrary rule or practice recognised as valid in any particular art or study; a conventionalism.
1790. Han. More, Relig. Fash. World (1791), 104. Every convention of artificial manners was invented not to cure, but to conceal, deformity.
a. 1832. Bentham, Deont., Wks. 1843, II. 146. He who goes one step beyond the line which the world’s poor conventions have drawn around moral and political questions.
1841. J. R. Young, Math. Dissert., Introd. 10. The ordinary convention … as to the disposal of the plus sign.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, 7. My father, who through love had suddenly Thrown off the old conventions.
1879. M. Arnold, Mixed Ess., 284. The Germans … were bent … on throwing off literary conventions, imitations of all sorts, and on being original.
1881. Maxwell, Electr. & Magn., I. 68. When the charge is positive, that is, according to the usual convention, vitreous.
11. attrib. and Comb., as convention parliament (see 5 a); convention-coin, -dollar, coins struck according to monetary conventions between different German states.
