Also 6 conuert(e. [a. OF. convert-ir = Pr. co(n)vertir, Sp. convertir, It. convertire:—pop. L. *convertīre, for cl.L. convertĕre to turn about, turn in character or nature, transform, translate, etc., f. con- together, altogether + vertĕre to turn.]
I. To turn in position or direction.
† 1. trans. To turn (a thing or oneself) about, to give a different (or specific) direction to. refl. = To turn (intr.). Obs.
1382. Wyclif, John i. 38. Sothli Ihesu conuertid [v.r. turnede; Vulg. conversus autem Jesus] and seynge hem suwynge him, seith to hem, What seken ȝe?
1572. Forrest, Theophilus, 530, in Anglia, VII. Which waye to converte hym, standinge in dowte.
1622–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., Introd. (1682), 18, Priests … who usually in their Sacrifices … Convert themselves unto the East.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. i. 51. Electricity, that is a power to attract strawes or light bodies, and convert the needle freely placed.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., 29. By the volitive Power of the Soul … the Eye is converted to this or that object.
† b. In convert the visage, eyes, etc., the sense passes from literal to fig.: cf. 2. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 76/3. Unto the lord I conuerte my vysage.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., vii. The eies … now conuerted are From his low tract and looke an other way.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, Kirchner’s Orat. Upon thee I convert the minds and eyes of all my Auditors.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 41. The mind that converts its eyes to that so great amplitude of the first Beautie.
1730–8. Thomson, Winter, 39. These, the publick Hope And Eye to thee converting.
† 2. fig. To turn, direct; refl. to turn one’s attention. Const. to, against, upon, from.
c. 1430. trans. Th. à Kempis’ Imit., II. i. Lerne to despice outwarde þinges & to conuerte þe to inwarde þinges.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. (1822), 331. Quincius Cincinnatus began to convert his prayaris to the goddis.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 11. If I onc convert mi studdi to diuiniti.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. ly. 38. After this he converted his mind to the affaires of the cittie.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, VI. xi. 523. Hee now … converts his forces against the King of Fez.
1647. Stapylton, Juvenal, 203. He converted his fury upon himself, and … fell upon his own sword.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 66/1. Euripides … lastly converted himself to Tragic Poesie.
1771. Goldsm., Hist. Eng., I. 268. The two kings … agreed to convert their whole attention to the rescuing Jerusalem.
† b. intr. To turn, direct one’s attention (to). Obs.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, I. xxii. (1850), 25. Take hede now, and to thy selfe conuerte, And see what wretchydnesse is the withynne.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 14. That we may turne or conuert, toward heauenly thinges.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 73. Now conuert we to the Person and Court of this Sultan.
† 3. trans. To turn back, cause to return; sometimes, to bring back, restore. Obs.
1388. Wyclif, Isa. xlix. 6. To conuerte the drastis of Israel. Ibid., Jer. xxxiii. 6. Y schal conuert the conuersion [1382 turne the turning] of Jerusalem.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 64. She was so angry that she might not conuerte Jason.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Ps. xxiii. iii. Or if I stray, he doth convert, And bring my minde in frame.
† 4. To reverse the relative position of, to invert, transpose; to exchange the data and conclusion of (a proposition in mathematics). Obs. (exc. as in b.)
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, 82 b. A woman, the silables converted is a man in wo.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., II. lxxvii. This Theoreme is nothyng els but the sentence of the last Theoreme before conuerted.
b. Logic. To transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by CONVERSION (sense 4).
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. iv. § 23. 204. Punies in Logick, know that universall affirmatives, are not simply converted.
1724. Watts, Logic, II. ii. § 3. ‘No spirit is an animal’ may be converted, ‘no animal is a spirit.’
1887. Fowler, Deduct. Logic, 80. A proposition is said to be converted when its terms are transposed, so that the subject becomes the predicate, and the predicate the subject.
† 5. fig. To reverse the course of, turn in the opposite direction; pa. pple. = opposite, contrary.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., viii. Notes 124. Fortune conuerted by martiall opportunity, they were at last by Camillus … put to the sword.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 188. Soft Wood, because its being loose, will not endure scraping without leaving a roughness upon the Work; but hard Wood, or Ivory (for the Reason converted) will.
† 6. To turn, twist; pa. pple. = twisted. Obs.
1782. A. Monro, Compar. Anat. (ed. 3), 41. The cornua uteri … are … converted in form of a snail.
7. To turn or apply to (another or a specific use or purpose), to divert; spec. in Law, wrongfully or illegally to appropriate and apply to (one’s own private use). (Cf. CONVERSION 7.)
1480. Bury Wills (1850), 57. That alle the issues … be houly conuertyd and applyid to thuse and profitys of thynhabytauntys.
1542–3. Act 34–35 Hen. VIII., c. 2 § 1. Receiuours of his reuenues … conuerted the same to their owne singuler profit.
1547. in Eng. Gilds, 248. Landes and possessions … wch are nowe … conuerted … to dedes of charyte.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 76. The great and wastfull expences bestowed at Rome might … have bene converted to their … flocks committed unto them.
1623. Bingham, Xenophon, 53. Much Lead, which they conuerted to the vse of slings.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. (1646), 215. Converting all their goods and moveables into his own coffers.
1772. Hist. Rochester, 190. He rarely converted his knowledge to an improper use.
1798. Webbe in Owen, Wellesley’s Disp., 10. Large supplies of dollars … intended for the China investment, were converted to the purposes of the war.
1890. Ld. Esher, in Law Times Rep., LXIII. 693/2. One Bates converted to his own use this deed more than six years ago.
II. To turn or change in character, nature, form, or function.
† 8. trans. To turn in mind, feeling, or conduct; to bring into another state (of mind, etc.). Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 301. Blessid be Love, that can thus folk convert.
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. iii. 20. If the riȝtwis man shal be convertid fro his riȝtwisnes, and shal doo wickidnes.
c. 1532. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 921. A man doutfull and suspect of jelous is sone converted and tourned in smerte.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 50. Conuertynge them to a better mynde.
1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 180. Bot at that time, I traist he was conuart.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 88. Least the custome of pleasure shoulde … conuerte vs … from God and good workes.
† b. intr. To turn from a course of conduct, purpose, disposition, etc.; to turn aside. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 1412. But I make hym soone to conuerte And don my red with Inne a day or tweye. Ibid. (c. 1386), Doctor’s T., 212. Al wolde he from his purpos not conuerte.
1596. Edward III., II. i. When thou convert’st from honours golden name.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xi. When thou from youth conuertest.
9. trans. To cause to turn to and embrace a (specified) religious faith, usually implying that the turning is to truth from error or ignorance. (Without qualification, usually = ‘to convert to Christianity.’)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19134 (Cott.). Þar was conuerted thusand fiue.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4502. Þai sal drawe And convert þe Iewes til cristen lawe.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxv. 117. Cristend and conuerted to Cristen faith.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. v. 37. In conuerting Iewes to Christians, you raise the price of Porke.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. (1682), 448. Repent thee of thy wickedness, and be converted to the Holy Mother Church.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 9. Except it be granted that Naaman was converted, the whole scope of our Saviours speech is overthrowen.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, II. vii. (1739), 540. When Philip the Deacon had converted … the Men of Samaria.
1849. Parker, Goth. Archit., I. i. (1874), When the Saxons were converted to Christianity.
b. transf. To cause to turn to and adopt (what is implied to be) a better opinion, belief, party, etc.
1814. D’Israeli, Quarrels Auth. (1867), 395. On speculative points any man may be suddenly converted.
1832. Campbell, To Sir F. Burdett, ii. Convert the men who waver now, and pause Between their love of self and human kind.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flo, I. 48. Do you care for Venetian glass? Ah, not so very much, I see; but you would be converted, I am sure you would, by my chandelier.
† c. refl. Obs.
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 1153. I rede þt þou converte the in hye, And then sall saughtyll with thyn Eme sir Garcy.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. xxiv. (1869), 85. Ne were it, þe jewes wolden come to hire, and conuerte hem.
† d. intr. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22367 (Cott.). Þe iuus sal convert, als it sais.
c. 1440. Partonope, 3994. Yf thow wylt conuerte and crystened be.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Jonah, Argt. That they which were of the heathen, should conuert.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, II. 1292. If a Christian haue deserued death … if he will conuert, they will … remit his punishment.
1649. Alcoran, 171. Your Lord shall pardon you, if you convert.
† (b) with complement: To become, ‘turn.’ Obs.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep., 383. But the doctors of your law, perceiving that many Jewes did convert Christians, and that … they gathered that Christ was the true Messias.
10. Theol. (trans.) To cause to turn from a sinful or irreligious life to one marked by love of God and pursuit of holiness; to turn to godliness.
c. 1340. E. E. Psalter (E.E.T.S.), l[i]. 14. Þe wicked shul ben conuerted to þe.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 110. Comune wommen conuerted and to good torned.
1382. Wyclif, John xii. 40. That thei be conuertid, or al turned, and I heele hem.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7189. The grace … That doth the synfulle folk converte, And hem to Jhesu Crist reverte.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 139. Thow hast … conuerted her with thine longe prechinge and good ensaumples.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Collect Gd. Friday. Rather that he should be conuerted and liue.
1611. Bible, Jas. v. 20. Hee which conuerteth the sinner from the errour of his way.
1745. Wesley, Answ. Ch., 35. That none but those who are converted … ought to communicate.
1832. McCheyne, in Bonar, Life, i. 27. If worldly motives go with me I shall never convert a soul.
1875. W. P. Mackay, Grace & Truth, v. When a wicked companion gets converted, his old associates wonder at his boldness in preaching.
† b. refl. Obs.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 924. Wald thow conuert the in hy, and couer the of sin Thow suld haue … mekle pardoun.
† c. intr. Obs.
a. 1400[?]. Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), II. 169. Convertes to me moste mightelye I shall save you.
1460. in Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 454. The synneful schulle to þee conuerte.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., II. i. Many of them do never converte from those vyces.
1554. Knox, Godly Lett., B j. They haue hardened their faces harder then stones, they will not convert.
1557. N. T. (Genev.), Luke xv. 7. Likewyse ioye shal be in heauen ouer one sinner that conuerteth.
1611. Bible, Isa. vi. 10. Lest they … vnderstand with their heart, and conuert and be healed.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 113. By which they may conuert, repent, beleeue, and be saued.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Matt. iii. 2. Arguments to move a sinner to repent, and to convert to God.
1826. E. Irving, Babylon, II. VI. 91. The infatuated world! It will not convert! it must be destroyed.
11. trans. To turn or change into something of different form or properties; to transform: a. something material.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 228 b. The same asshes or dust in to the whiche mannes body is conuerted.
1614. Day, Festivals (1615), 290. Even as the Wind … is sometimes converted to be a Plague.
1632. J. Pory, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 273. III. 274. Some redd spottes appeared on his face and breast, which … were converted into the Small Poxe.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxix. 171. As if the poyson endeavoured to convert him into a Dogge.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 299. Take any animal matters … and convert them into a black coal, by heating them.
1839. R. S. Robinson, Naut. Steam Eng., 170. One cubic foot of water must be converted into steam per hour.
1857. Livingstone, Trav., iii. 70. The trunk is often converted into canoes.
b. something immaterial.
1382. Wyclif, Amos vi. 13. Ȝe conuerten dom in to bitternesse.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 190. Crist haþ conuerted þe kynde of ryghtwisnesse In-to pees and pyte.
1548. Hall, Chron., 216 b. Not knowynge that or night, hys tryumphynge shoulde be torned to trymblynge, and hys solempnitie converted into mournyng.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. ii. 60.
| But Harry liues, that shall conuert those Teares | |
| By number, into houres of Happinesse. |
1671. Milton, Samson, 1564. That still lessens The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 264. Did they convert a legal claim into a vexatious extortion?
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 286. He was obliged to convert the siege into a blockade.
c. To change in character or function; to turn (into, to).
1557. North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., 155 a/1. Since they [men] are conuerted vnto adulterers, tyrauntes, [etc.].
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 197. Lately converted by the Townesmen into a Free schoole.
1587. Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 142. Whose skull he did convert into a pot.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xlvi. (1647), 106. Solomons Temple he converted to a Mosque.
1760. Goldsm., Cit. World, lxxii ’Tis yours to … convert Hymen to a broker.
1787. Gentl. Mag., 1115/2. Curaçoa and St. Eustatius are now converted into complete magazines for all kinds of European goods.
1836. Emerson, Nature, Lang., Wks. (Bohn), II. 150. Nouns or names of things, which they convert into verbs.
† d. spec. To turn into one’s own bodily substance; to assimilate, digest. Obs.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 73. Wiyn … is soone converted of kyndely heete & for he is so sotil … he assendiþ soone into þe heed.
1613. J. Salkeld, Treat. Angels, 56. Angels have somtimes beene knowne to eate … although they did not convert the meate … into their owne substance.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 492. Wonder not then, what God for you saw good If I refuse not, but convert, as you, to proper substance.
† e. intr. To turn, change, undergo a change of form or nature (into or to something else). Obs.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. xxxii. 4. All my blood and humors moyst to drines did convert.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard. (1618), 17. His reuenues would conuert to nothing in a moment.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 229. Let griefe Conuert to anger.
1658. Willsford, Nature’s Secrets, 196. The drops distill’d from Clinos convert to blood.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Cinyras & M., 342. Her solid bones convert to solid wood.
12. trans. Hence, in many technical uses in Manuf.
a. Steel Manuf. To turn (iron) into steel. Cf. CONVERTER 3 b.
1837. Whittock, Bk. Trades (1842), 225. The steel employed for files … undergoes a longer process in the conversion. It is said to be doubly converted.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 899. Thin bars of iron are much sooner converted than thick ones.
b. Ship-building. (a) To reduce (timber) from the rough state into pieces of nearly the required shape and size. (b) To change (a vessel) from one class to another by alteration of size or rig.
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xx. 393. Most of the steam-vessels … could be converted easily into men-of-war.
1865. Dockyard Accts. (Blue Bk. 8. 465–1). There is a great excess of offal timber … resulting from a larger quantity of rough timber having been converted.
c. Fire-arms. To change (e.g., a muzzle-loader) into (a breech-loader).
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., From among the various competing plans for converting the Enfield rifle of the English service into a breech-loader, that of Snider was adopted.
d. Watch-making. (See quots.)
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 67. A converted watch is one in which an escapement of a different kind has been substituted for the original one. Ibid. In converting a watch from a verge to a lever.
III. To change by substituting something of equivalent purport or value.
† 13. To turn into (another language), translate, render. Obs.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. 136. Hyt ys necessary … to haue hyt conuerted into our tong.
1573. (title) Æneidos of Virgill … converted into English Meeter by T. Phaër.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxiii. 204. The seventy Interpreters that converted the Bible into Greek.
14. Arith. To reduce to a different denomination; to ‘turn into.’ ? Obs.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., III. II. xiv. (ed. 7), 397. The difference of the Longitudes converted into miles.
1660. Willsford, Scales Comm., 27. The common rule of Three … by which means any one thing may be converted into the species of another, in respect of value or quantity.
15. To change by substitution of something of equivalent value; spec. in Law, to change (actually or constructively) the quality of property (see CONVERSION 16 b), a. from real to personal or vice versâ, b. as between partners.
1793. S. C. Cox, in W. P. Williams, Rep., III. 22. The court was of opinion that upon the construction of the will the real estate was converted into personalty for all the purposes of the will.
1827. Jarman, Powell’s Devises, II. 67. Until the trustees should think proper to convert the property.
1849. G. Spence, Equit. Jurisd. Crt. Chanc., II. 235. Where money is devised to be laid out in land, the same principle applies as where land is directed to be converted into money.
1860. Sir N. Lindley, Partnership (1888), 334. It is competent for partners by agreement amongst themselves to convert that which was partnership property into the separate property of an individual partner.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots Eng., x. (1880), 161. Those who possessed goods and movables, made haste to convert them into money.
