Also 4 suasioun, 5 -yon, 6–7 swasion. [ad. L. suāsio, -ōnem, n. of action f. suādēre to SUADE. Cf. obs. F. suasion (14th c.).]
1. The act or fact of exhorting or urging; persuasion.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. pr. i. (1868), 30. Com nowe furþe þerfore þe suasioun of swetnesse Rethoryen.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VII. 93. Seynte Elphegus was made bischop of Wynchestre, thro the suasion off blissede Andrewe, apperynge to seynte Dunstan.
1528. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 157/1. Thei had ones at the subtill suasion of the deuill, broken the thirde comaundement.
1641. Prynne, Antipathie, 9. O perfidious, ungratefull counsell and swasion of this prelate.
1660. South, Serm. (1727), IV. 34. It cannot be subdued by meer Suasion.
1720. Watts, in Relig. Juv. (1789), 169. To address the ear With conquering suasion, or reproof severe.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, xxviii. Men governed by reasons and suasion of speech.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots Eng., v. (1880), 74. Conformity by force, if not by suasion.
b. Moral suasion: persuasion exerted or acting through and upon the moral nature or sense.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 13. A cause of morall swasion to apprehend the truth.
1700. C. Nesse, Antid. Armin. (1827), 112. Moral suasion will neuer prove effectual to open the heart of man.
1861. Sat. Rev., 14 Dec., 596. [They] might … have found fitting occupation for their powers of moral suasion in the endeavour to avert a struggle far more ferocious.
1885. Dilke, in Leeds Merc., 15 Dec., 8/6. Those who thought that moral ’suasion needed to be aided by legislation.
c. transf.
1856. Masson, Ess. Biog. & Crit., 430. The occult suasion of the rhyme.
a. 1861. Clough, Mari Magno, 383. The sinking stars their suasions urge for sleep.
1875. Gladstone, Glean., VI. ii. 109. Introducing the Roman or Papal religion … under … the silent but steady suasion of its ceremonial.
2. An instance of this.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 1994. With many mighty Argument, Tatteyne to ther entencion, By many strong suasion.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, 95. Ne þretyng of þe iuges, ne fayre suasiones of oþir.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden), 91. It is untrue that the state of the said 18 chapter standeth wholly upon dehortations but rather upon suasions and exhortations.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 149. Away with thy morality and morall swasions, bring them to the Spirit of Christ.
1663. Heath, Flagellum, 7. Growing insolent and uncorrigible from those results and swasions within him.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIX. v. (1872), V. 500. Suasions from Montalembert.
