persuasion

noun

Etymology: From French persuasion and its source, Latin persuāsiō, from persuādēre, from suādēre (“to advise, recommend”).

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.

   “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.

   “Not Hermes Prolocutor to the Gods, Could vſe perſwaſions more pathetical.”

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

3. An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone.

   “Some of the shopowners were resistant to the extortion, so the mafia did some persuasion.”

4. A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief.

   “It is his persuasion that abortion should never be condoned.”

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

5. One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness.
6. A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology.

   “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.”

7. 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. Let us pray that the next generation be all of the male persuasion.”

   “To say that a woman is of the female persuasion was originally meant for a joke. As such it might pass — once. You might, indeed, refuse to smile; still, you wouldn't feel like invoking the law. But the constant and persistent use of this unfunny bit of fun has grown to be something of a public calamity. It is matter or congratulation, however, that such linguistic lese-majesty is far more common in England than in America.”