Companions[…] That do converse and waste the time together.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
We had conversed so often on that subject.1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC:
2
Followed by with To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune.
To seek the distant hills, and there converse With nature.a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
But to converse with heaven — This is not easy.1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion:
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Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions.1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
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Obsolete To have knowledge of something, from long talk or study.
according as the objects they converse with afford greater or less variety1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
Etymology From Old French converser, from Latin conversor (“live, have dealings with”).
1
Literary Free verbal interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.
Twice ere the sun descends, with zeal inspir'd, / From the vain converse of the world retir'd, / She reads the psalms and chapters for the day […]1727, [Edward Young], “Satire V. On Women.”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson […], published 1741, →OCLC:
[R]eturn to thy maſter, and tell him, e'er vve liquidate our differences by the ſvvord, Manfred vvould hold ſome converſe vvith him.1764 December 24 (indicated as 1765), Onuphrio Muralto, translated by William Marshal [pseudonyms; Horace Walpole], chapter III, in The Castle of Otranto, […], London: […] Tho[mas] Lownds […], →OCLC, page 93:
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She had around her gay converse, in which she had no share; and laughter, in which she was little tempted to join.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 177:
In a first-class carriage of a train speeding Balkanward across the flat, green Hungarian plain, two Britons sat in friendly, fitful converse.1919, Saki [pseudonym; Hector Hugh Munro], “The Disappearance of Crispina Umerleigh”, in R[othay] R[eynolds], editor, The Toys of Peace and Other Papers. […], London: John Lane, The Bodley Head […], →OCLC:
[S]uch was the aberration of mind attending converse with a successful draper.1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 26:
converse
adj
UK /ˈkɒnvɜːs/ · US /ˈkɑnvɝs/
Etymology From Latin conversus (“turned around”), past participle of converto (“turn about”).
1
Opposite; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal.
a converse proposition
converse
noun
Etymology From Latin conversus (“turned around”), past participle of converto (“turn about”).
1
The opposite or reverse.
2
Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences Of a proposition or theorem consisting of a statement of the form "If A is true, then B is true", the statement "If B is true, then A is true" which need not be equivalent to the first one.
All trout are fish, but the converse, that all fish are trout, is not true.
3
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences, Semantics One of a pair of terms that name or describe a relationship from opposite perspectives; converse antonym; relational antonym.