conviction
UK: kənˈvɪkʃ(ə)n | US: kənˈvɪkʃən
n. 1. A firmly held belief or opinion.
n. 2. The formal declaration of guilt in a legal trial.
n. 3. The quality of showing certainty or confidence in one's actions.
The word "conviction" traces back to Latin convictio, derived from convincere ("to conquer decisively" or "to prove wrong"). The morpheme con- intensifies the root vict- (from vincere, "to conquer"), originally implying "to overcome in argument." Over time, it evolved to signify both legal guilt (being "conquered" by evidence) and personal certainty (mental "conquest" of doubt). The suffix -ion nominalizes the action, solidifying its modern meanings.
She spoke with such conviction that everyone believed her.
The jury reached a unanimous conviction after reviewing the evidence.
His environmental convictions led him to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle.
The preacher’s words carried deep moral conviction.
Without concrete proof, the case ended without a conviction.