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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Persuade, -suaid, v. Also: par- and -swad(e, -swaid; -sewade; -suaed; -suadd, -swadd-; -sude; Presuayd. [e.m.E. perswade (1513), -suad(e (16th c.), L. persuādēre to bring over by talking, F. persuader (‘Oresme, 14th c. but not in general use till 16th c.’: OED.).] To persuade, in the usual senses and applications.There is probably some overlapping between senses 1 and 2.

1. tr. To counsel, advise or plead with (a person) (to do something); to urge (to a particular plan or course of action).Also without const., and absol.Also, once, const. to the person.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 87/11.
The … motif … was … to be lik to God … as the auld serpent persuadit and jnducit thame to desyre c 1500 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) I. 156.
Sik rumour … causit Schir David Dowglas perswade … his brothir to reteir hamewart agane 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 53.
I grant I dyd persuading [Ruddim. perswading] … Iuturna to pas doun … To hir brothir 1531 Bell. Boece II. 235. 1535 Stewart 27562.
He … Perswadit wes with wordis richt benyng … For to revenge this gude Conranus deid 1549 Compl. 110/11.
The said kyng … coniurit persuadit solistit and … manneist … Pompeus to reueil the secret counsel 1596 Dalr. II. 208/5.(b) a1578 Pitsc. I. 44/3.
That caussit schir Dawid Douglas persuadd the earle … to returne hamewart againe(c) 1596 Dalr. II. 38/30.
Because sche had persudet him to work sum traysoun against the king(2) 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. B i.
To perswade his brethren the Jewis to repentance and conuersioun to God — a1578 Pitsc. I. 105/4.
Ressone it self persuadis me to goode hope to come into the clemencie [etc.](b) 1523 Mar & Kellie MSS. 13.
That all uther personis … talk nocht with his grace … to persuaid him to ony … vices(3) a1578 Pitsc. II. 86/4.
Persuadand the governour sa far as scho might(4) absol. 1490 Irland Mir. II. 77/23.
And to the sammyn entencioun persuadis Sanct Ierome 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 28.
Delyvs Apollo … Tocum onto this cost perswadit nocht 1562-3 Winȝet I. 5/28.
Ignorantis … nother able to persuade to godlines be lerning nor be leuing(5) 1528 Acts II. 325/1.
Persuadand be his lettres and with his engyne to our souerane lordis baronis … to invaid our souerane lordis persoune

b. With inanimate subj. 1513 Doug. i. xii. 17.
Quhen the declynyng of the sternys brycht To sleip and rest perswadis our appetite 1549 Compl. 82/10.
Quhou beit that the said poietical beuk be dytit oratourly to persuaid the vulgar ingnorans til adhere til inuentit fablis 1596 Dalr. I. 1/1.
Mony rasouns persuadet me … the original beginning, institutions [etc.] … to sett doune

2. To win over (a person) to (till) a certain design or course of action; to induce or prevail upon, by incitement, argument, etc., to (for to) act in a particular way.Also without const.(1) 1535 Stewart 40154.
Till his purpois gif he culd him perswaid 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 213.
That he sould perswaid als mony as he could to his societie 1660 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 451.
[He] declared his loathsomnes to receave the said charge … yit was persuadit therto 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 32 (see Kelty).(b) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine .
Send wise gentilmen … to parswade bayth lordis and gentilmen to yowr gracis purpos(2) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 18/7.
It is the radiast waye to persuade al ȝour aduersaris to delyte in … ȝour melodie 1568 Reg. Morton I. 37.
Thay wald haif persuadit me be craft to haif liberallie demittit my crowne 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 52.
Seing that the toun of Edinburgh could not be perswadit to rebell a1578 Pitsc. I. 89/15. 1596 Dalr. II. 33/17.
Ane only dauchter … quhome … the gouernour persuadet … with fair wordis … to renunce the erldome 1596 Highland P. I. 153.
He hyrit intysit perswadit and condusit … Mackellar to execute the … enterprise 1630 Kinghorn Kirk S. 32.
Perswadded — 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 52.
He wrocht be sic meanys that he perswadit the haill lordis … to be enlargit of his ward(3) 1533 Bell. Livy I. 210/14.
Lat the goddis persuade thame 1545 Douglas Corr. 163.
Noble men … that I traist sall be parsuadit to this effect c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 849.
That wit … of na man suld cum neir Thame to perswaid with violence or vice 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49.
Having … perswadit him bayth be giftis of landis and money(b) 1596 Dalr. II. 215/1.
Mony gyues him gude counsel … bot na mair could persuaed him

b. With inanimate subj. — 1571 Cal. Sc. P. II. 667.
The saulftie of this young King etc.] … quhilkis persuadis me to suffer with pacience to be absent from my wyff and child

c. intr. To use persuasion successfully. — 1560 Bk. Disc. in 1558-66 Knox II. 190.
Gif he be found sound, abill to persuade by hailsome doctryne [etc.]

3. tr. To win (a person) to (of) a certain belief or opinion; to convince (that something is the case).Freq. in passive or participial constructions.(1) 1584 Calderwood IV. 131.
Howsoever yee would engyre your self to perswade them of the contrare 1622-6 Bisset I. 54/20.
The bischope herand him penetent … persuaded him of forgifnes(2) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 9/12.
Sall this … auarice persuaid our conscience … that [etc.](3) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 40/14.
Giue ȝe think thir exemplis nocht sufficient to persuade ȝow [etc.](4) 1544 Douglas Corr. 153.
That your highnes wer fullie perswadid of my faithfull mynde 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 165/12.
I am perswadit be invincible ressouns … that [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 53/4.
Paull … wes … maist wranguslie persuadit that all that he did wes … pleasand to God 1558-66 Knox I. 408. 1596 Highland P. I. 163.
Quhairoff sche wes certainlie perswaidit a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 269.
Forsamikle as we … are throwlye perswaddit that [etc.] 1607 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxxvi.
The beirers … quha we ar persuadit … will do thair honest dewtie thairin(b) 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 279.
Persewaded(5) 1600 R. Bruce Misc. Bann. C. I. 166.
Bot ar ye nocht persuadit?

b. reflex. — 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lvi.
I can not think nor persuade my self that [etc.] a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxviii. 31.
Persuaid thy self my faythfull hairt I will for thé abyd 1651 Douglas Corr. 258.
I perswad my self … my letters … haue been miscaryed

c. intr. for reflex. To convince oneself (something to be the case). — 1596 Dalr. I. 14/30.
Quheit … walde … grow in mony places abundantlie gif the housbandmen could persuade it to be to thair proffite

4. To commend (a course of action or state) as practicable, advisable or acceptable. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 53/21.
He garris appeire to him that the thing that he persuadis be … proffitabile 1562-3 Winȝet I. 120/20.
Imaginat ȝe ȝour kirk to be inuisible to mair esalie persuade thairthrow an unitie in all godliness 1567 G. Ball. 82.
Thocht thow perswaid this threid slyding … Think weill on heuinlie gouerning [etc.]

5. To urge or commend (to others, also to oneself) (a belief, statement, opinion, etc.) as credible or true.Const. simple obj., noun cl. obj. or acc. and infin.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. II. 106/16.
The doctour … inducis viii maner of wais to preif and persuaid the faith 1562-3 Winȝet II. 50/24.
To persuade the erroure the authoritie of Origine mot appere to mak mekle 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 156/9.
That stoike insensible stupiditie that … Lipsius persuaides in his Constantia(2) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 4/18 (see Persuasio(u)n(e n. b. (1)). 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 141.
Persuading that thai haif the fast end of the cord — 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 155.
Agricola … persuading to him self that … the Romane army was deliuerit [etc.] 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 87 b.
Sathan quha … persuadis to licht spreitit men that Christis treu seruice is … idolatrie(3) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 139/8.
This sammyne argument perswades the opinione of Arrius … to be resauit Id. Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 151/7.
Ȝoure dissaitfull doctryne persuadand … falslie the mess to be idolatrie 1563 Davidson Answer in Misc. Wodrow Soc. 242.