convincing

the word 'convincing' originates from the latin verb 'convincere', which is a compound of the intensive prefix 'con-' and 'vincere', meaning 'to conquer'. the literal sense was 'to overcome decisively' or 'to prove wrong', which evolved into the meaning of overcoming someone's doubts or arguments through proof. the present participle suffix '-ing' was added in english to form an adjective, shifting the focus from the act of overcoming to the quality of being able to do so. thus, the modern meaning retains the core idea of thoroughly conquering uncertainty or opposition in the mind.

Structure: con (intensive) + vinc (conquer) + ing (adjective suffix) con- (from latin, an intensive prefix meaning 'altogether', 'thoroughly'); -vinc- (from latin 'vincere', meaning 'to conquer', 'to overcome'); -ing (from old english, a suffix forming present participles and adjectives)