Part 2385

<blockquote>Formed by thy <b>converse</b> happily to steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Converse</h1> <Xpage=318>

<hw>Con"verse</hw><def>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>conversus</ets>, p.p. of <ets>convertere</ets>. See <er>Convert</er>.]</ety> Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; <as>as, a <ex>converse</ex> proposition</as>.</def>

<h1>Converse</h1> <Xpage=318>

<hw>Con"verse</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Logic)</fld> <def>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>as, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue</as>.</def>

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

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>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 <i>converse</i> is true, <it>i.e.</it>, if these angles are equal, the two sides are equal.</def>

<h1>Conversely</h1> <Xpage=318>

<hw>Con"verse*ly</hw> <tt>(? &or; <?/; 277)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a converse manner; with change of order or relation; reciprocally.</def>

<i>J. S. Mill.</i>

<h1>Converser</h1> <Xpage=318>

<hw>Con*vers"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who engages in conversation.</def>

<h1>Conversible</h1> <Xpage=318>

<hw>Con*ver"si*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being converted or reversed.</def>

<i>Hammond.</i>

<h1>Conversion</h1> <Xpage=318>

<hw>Con*ver"sion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>conversio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>conversion</ets>. See <er>Convert</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of turning or changing from one state or condition to another, or the state of being changed; transmutation; change.</def>

<blockquote>Artificial <b>conversion</b> of water into ice. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The <b>conversion</b> of the aliment into fat. <i>Arbuthnot.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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.</def> "<i>Conversion</i> to Christianity."

<i>Prescott.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>An appropriation of, and dealing with the property of another as if it were one's own, without right; <as>as, the <ex>conversion</ex> of a horse</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Or bring my action of <b>conversion</b> And trover for my goods. <i>Hudibras.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Logic)</fld> <def>The act of interchanging the terms of a proposition, as by putting the subject in the place of the predicate, or the contrary.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>A change or reduction of the form or value of a proposition; <as>as, the <ex>conversion</ex> of equations; the <ex>conversion</ex> of proportions.</as></def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Mil.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A change of front, as a body of troops attacked in the flank.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A change of character or use, as of smoothbore guns into rifles.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <fld>(Theol.)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>He oft Frequented their assemblies, . . . and to them preached <b>Conversion</b> and repentance, as to souls In prison under judgments imminent. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>