converse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a proposition obtained by conversion
  2. verb carry on a conversation
    discourse.
  3. adjective satellite of words so related that one reverses the relation denoted by the other
    • `parental' and `filial' are converse terms
  4. adjective satellite turned about in order or relation
    transposed; reversed.
    • transposed letters

WordNet

Con*verse" intransitive verb
Etymology
F. converser, L. conversari to associate with; con- + versari to be turned, to live, remain, fr. versare to turn often, v. intens. of vertere to turn See Convert.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Conversed ; present participle & verbal noun Conversing
Definitions
  1. To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune; -- followed by with.
    To seek the distant hills, and there converse With nature. Thomson.
    Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions. Sir W. Scott.
    But to converse with heaven - This is not easy. Wordsworth.
  2. To engage, in familiar colloqui; to interchange thoughts and opinions in a free, informal manner; to chat; -- followed by with before a person; by on, about, concerning, etc., before a thing.
    Companions That do converse and waste the time together. Shak.
    We had conversed so often on that subject. Dryden.
  3. To have knowledge of, from long intercourse or study; -- said of things.
    According as the objects they converse with afford greater or less variety. Locke.
    Syn. -- To associate; commune; discourse; talk; chat.
Con"verse noun
Definitions
  1. Frequent intercourse; familiar communion; intimate association. Glanvill.
    "T is but to hold Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unrolled. Byron.
  2. Familiar discourse; free interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.
    Formed by thy converse happily to steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe. Pope.
Con"verse
Definitions
  1. , a. L. conversus, p.p. of convertere. See Convert. Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; as, a converse proposition.
Con"verse noun
Definitions
  1. (Logic) 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, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue. ✍ It should not (as is often done) be confounded with the contrary or opposite of a proposition, which is formed by introducing the negative not or no.
  2. (Math.) 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 converse is true, i.e., if these angles are equal, the two sides are equal.

Webster 1913