Also 6 conuart. [app. f. CONVERT v.; perh. by abbreviation for converted, but possibly partly due to CONVERSE sb.2, a. F. convers: cf. sense 2.]

1

  A.  adj.

2

  1.  = CONVERTED 2. Now rare.

3

1622.  Bacon, Hen. VII., Wks. (Bohn), 387. John Osbeck, a convert Jew.

4

1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 78. By means of a convert emperor, the heathen church-lands … became transfer’d to the Christian clergy.

5

1812.  J. & H. Smith, Rejected Addr., Archit. Atoms (Rtldg.), 128. When convert Christians read No sacred writings but the Pagan creed.

6

  † 2.  Convert brother, sister: = CONVERT sb. 2, CONVERSE sb.2 2. Obs.

7

1640.  Glapthorne, Wit in Constable, I.

        Bestow more money yearely upon bookes:
Then would for convert sisters build an almes-house.

8

1693.  trans. Emillianne’s Hist. Monast. Ord., xvii. 179. The Convert Brothers shall recite … seventy seven times the Lord’s Prayer.

9

  B.  sb.

10

  1.  A person converted to, or brought to embrace and profess, any religious faith or doctrine.

11

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 191. [They] appoint certaine dayes to their newe conuertes, during the which they must exercise themselues in penance.

12

1611.  Bible, Isa. i. 27. Zion shall be redeemed with iudgement, and her conuerts with righteousnesse.

13

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 265. A Convert’s but a Fly, that turns about After his Head’s pull’d off, to find it out.

14

1704.  Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, i. (1739), 17. An early Convert to Christianity.

15

1794.  Paley, Evid., II. ix. § 2. Converts properly so called, that is … adults voluntarily embracing Christianity.

16

1876.  J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. ii. 87. In Sogdiana and Khorasan they had become converts to the Mahometan faith.

17

  b.  transf. A person brought over to any opinion, belief, or party.

18

1641.  W. Hakewill, Libertie of Subject, 3. I did forsake my former opinion as erroneous, and do now embrace the contrary … and so am now become a convert.

19

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., II. xv. (1675), 144. If … our new Convert shall consider things of this Nature.

20

1771.  Junius Lett., liv. 287. A convert to triennial parliaments.

21

1859.  Smiles, Self-Help, iv. 87. For some time, he did not make a single convert, and gained nothing but … abuse.

22

  † 2.  = CONVERSE sb.2 2. Obs.

23

1577.  Holinshed, Chron., II. 336. One of his owne seruants did conspire with a conuert of that abbeie.

24

  † 3.  That which has undergone conversion; that into which anything is turned. Obs. rare.

25

1589.  Warner, Alb. Eng., VI. xxxi. (1612), 157. When his sudden eies admir’d the boan-flesht faire Conuart Deriued from his Side. [Adam’s rib ‘converted’ into Eve.]

26

  4.  Comb. (in sense 1).

27

1738.  Lond. Mag., 390. A Missioner in Ireland, and a very busy Convert-Monger.

28