Conviction \Con*vic"tion\, n. [L. convictio proof: cf. F. conviction conviction (in sense 3 & 4). See Convict, Convince.]

1. The act of convicting; the act of proving, finding, or adjudging, guilty of an offense.

The greater certainty of conviction and the greater certainty of punishment. --Hallam.

2. (Law) A judgment of condemnation entered by a court having jurisdiction; the act or process of finding guilty, or the state of being found guilty of any crime by a legal tribunal.

Conviction may accrue two ways. --Blackstone.

3. The act of convincing of error, or of compelling the admission of a truth; confutation.

For all his tedious talk is but vain boast, Or subtle shifts conviction to evade. --Milton.

4. The state of being convinced or convicted; strong persuasion or belief; especially, the state of being convicted of sin, or by one's conscience.

To call good evil, and evil good, against the conviction of their own consciences. --Swift.

And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction? --Bunyan.

Syn: Conviction; persuasion.

Usage: Conviction respects soley matters of belief or faith; persuasion respects matters of belief or practice. Conviction respects our most important duties; persuasion is frequently applied to matters of indifference. --Crabb. -- Conviction is the result of the [operation of the] understanding; persuasion, of the will. Conviction is a necessity of the mind, persuasion an acquiescence of the inclination. --C. J. Smith. -- Persuasion often induces men to act in opposition to their conviction of duty.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)