convenire

Convenire is a Latin verb meaning to come together, to assemble, to meet, or to be fitting or suitable. In classical Latin the verb expresses both physical gathering and the sense of suitability or agreement. It belongs to the fourth conjugation, with the active present forms built on the conven- stem.

Etymology and related forms: Convenire is built from the prefix com- meaning “together” and venire meaning “to come.” The root gives rise to related English and Romance-language terms that revolve around coming together, meeting, or being appropriate. In English, the verb convene preserves this core sense of bringing people together for a formal purpose.

English usage: In modern English, convene means to bring people together for a meeting or assembly, especially in official or formal contexts. Examples include “The council will convene next month” or “The jury was convened to hear the case.” The word often appears in legal, governmental, and organizational settings, reinforcing its sense of formal gathering.

Romance-language parallels: In Italian, convenire means “to be convenient or advantageous,” as well as “to meet” in the sense of aligning with others’ plans; the phrase conviene means “it is advisable” or “it suits.” The noun convegno denotes a meeting or conference. In Spanish and Portuguese, convenir means “to agree” or “to be beneficial; to suit,” with related nouns like convenio (agreement) and conveniente (convenient). These variations retain the core idea of coming to agreement, suitability, or conjunction.

See also: convene, convention, confluence.