CONVERSE


Meaning of CONVERSE in English

converse 1

— converser , n.

v. /keuhn verrs"/ ; n. /kon"verrs/ , v. , conversed, conversing , n.

v.i.

1. to talk informally with another or others; exchange views, opinions, etc., by talking.

2. Archaic. to maintain a familiar association (usually fol. by with ).

3. Obs. to have sexual intercourse (usually fol. by with ).

n.

4. familiar discourse or talk; conversation.

[ 1300-50; ME conversen converser conversari to associate with. See CON-, VERSE ]

Syn. 1. chat, discuss. See speak .

converse 2

— conversely /keuhn verrs"lee, kon"verrs-/ , adv.

adj. /keuhn verrs", kon"verrs/ ; n. /kon"verrs/ , adj.

1. opposite or contrary in direction, action, sequence, etc.; turned around.

n.

2. something opposite or contrary.

3. Logic.

a. a proposition obtained from another proposition by conversion.

b. the relation between two terms, one of which is related to the other in a given manner, as "younger than" to "older than."

4. a group of words correlative with a preceding group but having a significant pair of terms interchanged, as "hot in winter but cold in summer" and "cold in winter but hot in summer."

[ 1350-1400; ME convers ( conversus ptp. of convertere to turn around, equiv. to con- CON- + vert- turn + -tus ptp. suffix; see CONVERT ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .