Library / English Dictionary

CONVERSE

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A proposition obtained by conversion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("converse" is a kind of...):

proposition ((logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turned about in order or relation

Example:

transposed letters

Synonyms:

converse; reversed; transposed

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

backward (directed or facing toward the back or rear)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of words so related that one reverses the relation denoted by the other

Example:

'parental' and 'filial' are converse terms

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

antonymous (of words: having opposite meanings)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Carry on a conversation

Synonyms:

converse; discourse

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "converse" is one way to...):

speak; talk (exchange thoughts; talk with)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "converse"):

argue; contend; debate; fence (have an argument about something)

interview; question (conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting)

interview (discuss formally with (somebody) for the purpose of an evaluation)

interview (go for an interview in the hope of being hired)

chaffer; chat; chatter; chew the fat; chit-chat; chitchat; claver; confab; confabulate; gossip; jaw; natter; shoot the breeze; visit (talk socially without exchanging too much information)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue converse

Sam wants to converse with Sue

Derivation:

conversation (the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.)

Credits

 Context examples: 

While Ford, in his English-French, was conversing with Tita in her Italian-French, the old man was carefully examining his precious head to see that no scratch had been left upon its surface.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"I am everywhere," answered the Voice, "but to the eyes of common mortals I am invisible. I will now seat myself upon my throne, that you may converse with me."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

“Nobody but myself, Trot, knows what that man is!” my aunt would proudly remark, when we conversed about it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I saw Jane Fairfax and conversed with her, with admiration and pleasure always—but with no thought beyond.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The converse was also true.

(Older biologic age linked to elevated breast cancer risk, National Institutes of Health)

Fanny's best consolation was in being assured that Edmund had wished for her very much, and that he should certainly have come back for her, had she not been tired already; but this was not quite sufficient to do away with the pain of having been left a whole hour, when he had talked of only a few minutes, nor to banish the sort of curiosity she felt to know what they had been conversing about all that time; and the result of the whole was to her disappointment and depression, as they prepared by general agreement to return to the house.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The rest of the evening she found very dull; Mr. Tilney was drawn away from their party at tea, to attend that of his partner; Miss Tilney, though belonging to it, did not sit near her, and James and Isabella were so much engaged in conversing together that the latter had no leisure to bestow more on her friend than one smile, one squeeze, and one dearest Catherine.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I did not wonder, when, without looking at me, he took a seat at the other side of the room, and began conversing with some of the ladies.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He and Sir Nigel sat late in high converse as to bushments, outfalls, and the intaking of cities, with many tales of warlike men and valiant deeds.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)