convict

[ verb adjective kuhn-vikt; noun kon-vikt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial:

   to convict a prisoner of a felony.

2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

noun

1. a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.
2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective

1. Archaic. convicted.

convict

verb

1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

noun

1. a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment
2. a person serving a prison sentence

adjective

1. obsolete.
   convicted

Derived Forms

• conˈvictable, adjective

Other Words From

• con·vict·a·ble con·vict·i·ble adjective
• con·vic·tive adjective
• con·vic·tive·ly adverb
• pre·con·vict verb (used with object)
• re·con·vict verb (used with object)
• un·con·vict·ing adjective
• un·con·vic·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convict¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb convicten, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + vic-, variant stem of vincere “to overcome” + -tus past participle suffix; Middle English noun convict “(a) convict,” adjective convict “convicted,” past participle of convicten “to convince” (or directly from Latin ); con-, convince

Word History and Origins

Origin of convict¹

C14: from Latin convictus convicted of crime, from convincere to prove guilty, convince

Example Sentences

A cheerful convict was found dead by his devoted caretaker one morning.

From The Daily Beast

I spent four years in a prison where each handicapped convict was issued an underpaid inmate assistant.

From The Daily Beast

As in most prisons, the “trusty” was a convict the warden trusted and thus had special privileges.

From The Daily Beast

And revolutionary courts often convict and sentence journalists to prison on these baseless charges.

From The Daily Beast

The jury decided that the case was not strong enough to convict.

From The Daily Beast

Weary of the day's routine, I welcome the solitude of the cell, impatient even of the greeting of the passing convict.

From Project Gutenberg

While a jury might refuse to convict on circumstantial evidence a detective is not so deterred.

From Project Gutenberg

It is hard to forgive an inferior for the wrong which he may convict us with; hence he grew heated as his daughter cooled.

From Project Gutenberg

For six long months a court of inquiry sat, but it could not get evidence enough to convict a single man.

From Project Gutenberg

At the dinner hour Schiller left my fare to the convict Kunda, who brought me some water, while Schiller stood outside.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• condemn
• imprison
• sentence