persuasion

the word "persuasion" originates from the latin persuasionem, the noun of action from the verb persuadēre, meaning "to bring over by talking." this verb itself is a compound of the intensive prefix per- ("thoroughly") and suadēre ("to advise, urge"). the root suadēre is traced back to the proto-indo-european root swād-, which is also the source of the english word "sweet," carrying the original sense of "to make something agreeable or pleasing." thus, the literal logic of persuasion evolved from the idea of "thoroughly advising" or "making a course of action seem sweet and agreeable" to the modern abstract meanings of the act of convincing or a firmly held belief system.

Structure: per (thoroughly) + suas (advise) + ion (noun suffix) per (latin prefix, meaning "through, thoroughly"); suas (from latin verb suadēre, meaning "to advise, urge"); ion (latin suffix, forming nouns of action or state).