different between persuasion vs fawning

English

Alternative forms

• perswasion (obsolete)

Etymology

From French persuasion and its source, Latin persu?si?, from persu?d?re, from su?d?re (“to advise, recommend”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /p??swe??(?)n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /p??swe???n/

Noun

persuasion (countable and uncountable, plural persuasions)

1. The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc. [from 14th c.]
   • 2006, Rachel Morris, "Borderline Catastrophe", Washington Monthly, vol. 38:10:

     With the base unleashed, the White House was unable to broker a compromise, either by persuasion or by pressure.

2. An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone. [from 14th c.]
   • 1928, "The New Pictures", Time, 13 Feb 1928:

     Sadie curses, weeps, then, infected by Mr. Hamilton's writhing persuasions, prays and becomes penitent.

3. A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief. [from 16th c.]

   It is his persuasion that abortion should never be condoned.

   • 2010, "We don't need gay stereotypes", The Guardian, 6 Feb 2010:

     Social understanding and equality can neither be nurtured through fear, nor intimidation. Surely this goes for people of all sexual persuasions.

4. One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness. [from 16th c.]
5. A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology. [from 17th c.]
   • 2009, US Catholic (letter), May 2009:

     As a convert from the Baptist persuasion more than 40 years ago, I still feel like an outsider in the church despite the kindness and acceptance of Catholic friends.

6. (by extension, often humorous) Another personal, animal or inanimate trait that is not (very) liable to be changed by persuasion, such as sex, gender, ethnicity, origin, profession or nature.
   • 1871 February 14, J.J., "More Solution", Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star, page 105.

   • 1919, Pere Marquette Magazine, Vol. 11, page 19.

   • 1967, Taxes. The Tax Magazine, vol. 45, issue 2, page 698.

   • 1984, The Medical Journal of Australia, page 739.

   • 2015, Leslie Kelly, No More Bad Girls, in New Year's Resolution: Romance!: Say Yes\No More Bad Girls\Just a Fling, Harlequin, page 125.

Antonyms

• dissuasion

Derived terms

• persuade
• persuasive
• suasion

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin persuasio, from persuadere, from suadere (“to advise, recommend”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p??.s?a.zj??/

Noun

persuasion f (plural persuasions)

1. persuasion

Further reading

• “persuasion” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??n??

Verb

fawning

1. present participle of fawn

Adjective

fawning

1. Seeking favor by way of flattery; flattering, servile.
   • c. 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act I scene iii^[2]:

     Shylock: How like a fawning publican he looks ! […]

Translations

Derived terms

• fawningly
• fawningness

Noun

fawning (plural fawnings)

1. Servile flattery.
   • c. 1599-1601, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III scene ii^[3]:

     Hamlet: No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, / And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee / Where thrift may follow fawning.

   • 1818, Hannah More, The Inflexible Captive

     Xantippus found his ruin ere it reached him, / Lurking behind your honours and rewards; / Found it in your feigned courtesies and fawnings.

Translations