conversation
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Old French conversation, from Latin conversātiōnem, accusative singular of conversātiō (“‘conversation’”), from conversor (“‘abide, keep company with’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
conversation (plural conversations)
- (obsolete) Interaction; commerce or intercourse between people.
- (obsolete) Sexual intercourse.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 333:
- The landlady therefore would by no means have admitted any conversation of a disreputable kind to pass under her roof.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 333:
- (archaic) Behaviour, the way one conducts oneself; a person's way of life.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York Review of Books, 2001, p. 50:
- There are many that take no heed what happeneth to others by bad conversation , and therefore overthrow themselves in the same manner through their own fault, not foreseeing dangers manifest.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York Review of Books, 2001, p. 50:
- Expression and exchange of individual ideas through talking with other people; also, a set instance or occasion of such talking.
- I had an interesting conversation with Nicolas yesterday about how much he's getting paid.
- (fencing) The back-and-forth play of the blades in a bout.
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Usage notes
- To make conversation means to start a conversation with someone with no other aim than to talk and break the silence.
- To have a conversation, and to hold a conversation, both mean to converse.
- See Appendix:Collocations of do, have, make, and take
[edit] Translations
talking
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fencing term
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] French
[edit] Etymology
Borrowed from Latin conversātiō (“‘conversation’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
conversation f. (plural conversations)
