converse

Verb

converse (third-person singular simple present converses, present participle conversing, simple past and past participle conversed)

1. (formal, intransitive) To talk; to engage in conversation.
   • 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]...
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   conversate, convo, discourse

2. 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
3. (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

Noun (1)

converse (uncountable)

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...

Adjective

UK/ˈkɒnvɜːs/US/ˈkɑnvɝs/

converse (not comparable)

1. Opposite; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal.
   • a converse proposition

Noun (2)

UK/ˈkɒnvɜːs/US/ˈkɑnvɝs/

converse (plural converses)

1. The opposite or reverse.
2. 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. One of a pair of terms that name or describe a relationship from opposite perspectives; converse antonym; relational antonym.
4. Synonym of transpose.

   Synonyms:

   transpose

Proper noun capitalized: Converse

Converse (plural Converses)

1. A surname.
2. A shoe of an American-based brand of that name.