Definitions for: Conviction


[n] (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed; "the conviction came as no surprise"
[n] an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence



Webster (1913) Definition: Con*vic"tion, n. [L. convictio proof: cf. F.
conviction conviction (in sense 3 & 4). See Convict,
Convince.]
1. The act of convicting; the act of proving, finding, or
adjudging, guilty of an offense.

The greater certainty of conviction and the greater
certainty of punishment. --Hallam.

2. (Law) A judgment of condemnation entered by a court having
jurisdiction; the act or process of finding guilty, or the
state of being found guilty of any crime by a legal
tribunal.

Conviction may accrue two ways. --Blackstone.

3. The act of convincing of error, or of compelling the
admission of a truth; confutation.

For all his tedious talk is but vain boast, Or
subtle shifts conviction to evade. --Milton.

4. The state of being convinced or convicted; strong
persuasion or belief; especially, the state of being
convicted of sin, or by one's conscience.

To call good evil, and evil good, against the
conviction of their own consciences. --Swift.

And did you presently fall under the power of this
conviction? --Bunyan.

Syn: Conviction; persuasion.

Usage: Conviction respects soley matters of belief or faith;
persuasion respects matters of belief or practice.
Conviction respects our most important duties;
persuasion is frequently applied to matters of
indifference. --Crabb. -- Conviction is the result of
the [operation of the] understanding; persuasion, of
the will. Conviction is a necessity of the mind,
persuasion an acquiescence of the inclination. --C. J.
Smith. -- Persuasion often induces men to act in
opposition to their conviction of duty.

Synonyms: article of faith, condemnation, judgment of conviction, sentence, strong belief

Antonyms: acquittal

See Also: amateurism, belief, final decision, final judgment, murder conviction, rape conviction, robbery conviction

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