convertere

Convertere is a Latin verb meaning to turn, bend, or change in various senses. It covers physical turning (to turn toward a direction), figurative change (to alter a state or condition), and, in religious or rhetorical contexts, to convert someone to a belief or opinion. The sense often depends on the object and prepositional or infinitival constructions that accompany it.

Etymology and principal parts: The word comes from con- “together” plus vertere “to turn,” signaling a turning movement or transformation. The canonical principal parts are converto, convertere, converti, conversum. It is a third‑conjugation verb, with present forms built around the stem conver- and the usual -o, -is, -it, -imus, -itis, -unt pattern for the present active indicative, and corresponding patterns for other tenses. The present passive forms are: convertor, converteris, convertitur, convertimur, convertimini, convertuntur. The verb also yields the imperfect forms convertebam, convertebas, convertebat, convertebamus, convertebatis, convertebant, and the perfect forms such as converti, convertisti, convertit, convertimus, convertistis, converterunt. The supine and the perfect passive participle are conversum and conversus, respectively.

Usage notes: Convertere may take a direct object in the accusative for the thing turned, and it can be used with adjectives or prepositional phrases to indicate direction or transformation. In religious language, it commonly means to cause someone to adopt a different faith (e.g., to convert to Christianity). English derivatives include convert, conversion, and convertible.

See also: vertere, conver-sion, conversion.