persuasere

Persuasere is a Latin verb meaning "to persuade, to convince, or to appeal to." It is the infinitive form of the verb persuasio, which itself derives from the noun persuasio, a compound of per- (through) and *sveare*, an older root meaning "to drive or urge." In classical Latin, persuasere is used in both moral and rhetorical contexts, such as in Cicero’s speeches where he calls for the persuader to appeal to the audience’s sense of justice. The verb follows the first conjugation, with the first person singular present indicative being persuasive. Its principal parts are persuasere, persuasi, persuatae, persuati. In the perfect, the transitive form is persuadere, meaning "to lead toward a decision."

Persuasere appears in several notable works: in Caesar’s "Commentarii de Bello Gallico" he describes his persuading of allies; in Seneca’s pastoral letters, he exhorts his readers to persuade themselves about virtue. The verb’s usage is often contrasted with oraculum or iudicium, distinguishing personal conviction from authoritative decree. The term entered Late Latin as persuadere, forming the basis for the Modern English verb "to persuade." Modern legal practices occasionally reference persuasio in the context of persuasive evidence or rhetorical argument. This linguistic shift reflects a continuity of the core idea of influencing belief or action from antiquity to present-day usage.