Part 537

Con"verse, n. 1. (Logic) A proposition which arises from interchanging the terms of another, as by putting the predicate for the subject, and the subject for the predicate; as, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue.

&fist; It should not (as is often done) be confounded with the contrary or opposite of a proposition, which is formed by introducing the negative not or no.

2. (Math.) A proposition in which, after a conclusion from something supposed has been drawn, the order is inverted, making the conclusion the supposition or premises, what was first supposed becoming now the conclusion or inference. Thus, if two sides of a sides of a triangle are equal, the angles opposite the sides are equal; and the converse is true, i.e., if these angles are equal, the two sides are equal.

Con"verse*ly (? or &?;; 277), adv. In a converse manner; with change of order or relation; reciprocally. J. S. Mill.

Con*vers"er (?), n. One who engages in conversation.

Con*ver"si*ble (?), a. Capable of being converted or reversed. Hammond.

Con*ver"sion (?), n. [L. conversio: cf. F. conversion. See Convert.] 1. The act of turning or changing from one state or condition to another, or the state of being changed; transmutation; change.

Artificial conversion of water into ice. Bacon.

The conversion of the aliment into fat. Arbuthnot.

2. The act of changing one's views or course, as in passing from one side, party, or from of religion to another; also, the state of being so changed. "Conversion to Christianity." Prescott.

3. (Law) An appropriation of, and dealing with the property of another as if it were one's own, without right; as, the conversion of a horse.

Or bring my action of conversion And trover for my goods. Hudibras.

4. (Logic) The act of interchanging the terms of a proposition, as by putting the subject in the place of the predicate, or the contrary.

5. (Math.) A change or reduction of the form or value of a proposition; as, the conversion of equations; the conversion of proportions.

6. (Mil.) (a) A change of front, as a body of troops attacked in the flank. (b) A change of character or use, as of smoothbore guns into rifles.

7. (Theol.) A spiritual and moral change attending a change of belief with conviction; a change of heart; a change from the service of the world to the service of God; a change of the ruling disposition of the soul, involving a transformation of the outward life.

He oft Frequented their assemblies, . . . and to them preached Conversion and repentance, as to souls In prison under judgments imminent. Milton.

Con*ver"sive (?), a. 1. Capable of being converted or changed.

2. Ready to converse; social. [Archaic] Feltham.

Con*vert" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Converted; p. pr. & vb. n. Converting.] [L. convertere, - versum; con- + vertere to turn: cf. F. convertir. See Verse.] 1. To cause to turn; to turn. [Obs.]

O, which way shall I first convert myself? B. Jonson.

2. To change or turn from one state or condition to another; to alter in form, substance, or quality; to transform; to transmute; as, to convert water into ice.

If the whole atmosphere were converted into water. T. Burnet.

That still lessens The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. Milton.

3. To change or turn from one belief or course to another, as from one religion to another or from one party or sect to another.

No attempt was made to convert the Moslems. Prescott.

4. To produce the spiritual change called conversion in (any one); to turn from a bad life to a good one; to change the heart and moral character of (any one) from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness.

He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. Lames v. 20.