convenient, a. and n.
(kənˈviːnɪənt)
[ad. L. convenient-em agreeing, consistent, accordant, fitting, suitable, becoming, pr. pple. of convenīre to come together, meet, unite, agree, fit, suit, etc. (There was also an OF. convenient in 15–16th c.)]
† 1. Agreeing (in opinion); in accord. Obs.
| 1485 Sc. Acts Jas. III (1814) 178 (Jam.) Sa that..the princez that suld be the partj, be greable and convenient. |
† 2. Accordant, congruous, consonant (to). Obs.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 45 b, Eche of these peticions be conuenyent and agreeynge to some gyfte of y⊇ holy goost. 1552 Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 3 To our office mair convenient and consonant. 1654 Burton's Diary (1828) I. 55 It may seem not altogether so equitable and convenient to reason. |
† 3. Agreeing with or consonant to the nature or character of; in accordance with; in keeping with; befitting, becoming (to or for a thing or person).
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xi. 230 It is convenyent to a god, to ete no mete. c 1450 Crt. of Love 786 Her nose directed straight..With form and shape thereto convenient. 1538 Starkey England i. i. 8 The best kynd of lyfe and most convenyent to the nature of man. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 144 Of apparell and of demeanure nothyng comely ne conueniente for one that should bee a manne. 1631 Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 250 Interred in..a place of Saint Maries Church conuenient for so worthy a person. |
† b. Of befitting size or extent; commensurate, proportionate (to). Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 550 Hise proporcioneles conuenientz ffor his equacions in euery thyng. 1578 Lyte Dodoens v. xxiv. 581 The roote is long, and of a convenient thicknesse. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 186 b, The rewarde of æternal lyf conuenient to the merit. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. i. 3 Sutable at least in a convenient degree to the worth of the Faculty. |
† 4. Suitable, appropriate; a. to or for a purpose, etc. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iii. xi. 97 Nature yeueth to euery thing þat þat is conuenient to hym. 1548 Hall Chron. 124 A place moste mete and convenient for to abide battaill. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 184 b, Shut them [bees] up with foode convenient for them. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iii. i. 2 Here's a maruailous conuenient place for our rehearsall. 1611 Bible Prov. xxx. 8. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 169 Pieces of Wood, of a Substance convenient to the light or heavy work they intend to Turn. 1790 A. M. Johnson Monmouth I. 186 [A place] convenient to the purpose of holding our secret consultations. |
† b. Suitable to the conditions or circumstances; befitting the case; appropriate, proper, due. Obs.
| c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §4 Wher-fore me semith convenient..to make of it special declaracioun. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 20 Sett in trew and conuenyente termes, wythout erroure or darkenes. 1547 Act 1 Edw. VI, c. 3 §16 To punish..with chaining, beating, or otherwise, as shall seeme to them conuenient. a 1593 H. Smith Term. (1866) II. 139 It was convenient Christ should visit sinners for their speedy conversion. 1653 Walton Angler 59 Put them into a convenient quantity of the best butter. 1670 Dk. Richmond in Marvell's Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 299, I thought convenient to advise you, that I intend to prosecute this businesse. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 106 When the piece Q, is set to its convenient heighth. 1741 Wesley Wks. (1830) I. 309 Many were destitute of convenient clothing. |
† c. Of time: Due, proper. Obs.
| 1415 in York Myst. Introd. (1885) 34 And that euery player..be redy in his pagiaunt at convenyant time. 1549 Latimer Ploughers (Arb.) 20 So must he at all times convenient preache diligentlie. 1552 Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 35, I sal gif yow rayne in tyme convenient. |
† 5. Morally or ethically suitable or becoming; proper. Obs.
| a 1400 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 149 It is not convenient a man to be Ther women gon in travalynge. 1497 Bp. Alcock Mons Perfect. D iij b, All other of theym lyved in a conuenyent chastyte. 1511–2 Act 3 Hen. VIII, c. 23 §5 It is not convenient nor standing with good and indifferent ordre that the said sir Robert shuld be Auditour and Juge of hymself. 1611 Bible Eph. v. 4 Neither filthinesse, nor foolish talking, nor iesting, which are not conuenient. 1684 tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes xviii. 62 She sang and danc'd more exquisitely than was convenient for an honest woman. 1727 Swift Gulliver i. iv. 56 And which is the convenient end, seems..to be left to every man's conscience. |
6. Personally suitable or well-adapted to one's easy action or performance of functions; favourable to one's comfort, easy condition, or the saving of trouble; commodious. (The current sense.)
| 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 2 Take therwith gretter acqueyntaunce at som other conuenyent tyme. 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxxiv. 2 When I maye get a convenient tyme I shall iudge accordinge vnto righte. 1548 Hall Chron. 247 And so by conveniente jorneys came to the towne of Edenborough. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 258 Delve of convenient Depth your thrashing Floor. 1721 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. III. 120 To come with all convenient speed. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. i. §1 A convenient house with a hundred acres of land. 1749 F. Smith Voy. Disc. N.-W. Pass. II. 277 It would be very ill convenient to his Men, to be out all Night in the Frost, upon a cold Beach. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth vii, A very convenient arrangement for mutual support. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. viii. 205 It had once been convenient to forget, it was now equally convenient to remember. |
7. colloq. and dial. a. Within easy reach; easily accessible; ‘handy’.
| 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair iii, Heretics used to be brought thither convenient for burning hard by. |
b. Conveniently near; near in place or time to. (Ireland and U.S.)
| 1849 Polk cited in Bartlett Dict. Amer. 1865 Dublin Even. Mail Feb., It was convenient to five o'clock when I got home. 1880 Antrim & Down Gloss., Convenient, near. ‘His house is convenient to the church’. 1883 Daily News 22 Jan. (Dublin Conspiracy), At the College rail, convenient to Clarendon's Riding School. |
¶ Formerly often compared by -er, -est.
| 1644 Nye Gunnery (1670) 37 If you find it more convenienter to use the plumb line then the Index. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. iv. 201 Although it is the neerest way, it is not the convenientest way for Seamen. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. i. 233 He will have larger panes of glass, and convenienter casements. |
B. n.
† 1. ? Agreement, accord. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ii. x. (1495) 37 The joynture and conuenyente of domes of god. Ibid. viii. xxviii. 340 A body that is blysful and a nother that is not blysfull maye be togyders in the same stede and place wythout conuenyent. |
† 2. pl. ? Proprieties; formalities. Obs.
| 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. V, cccxlvii, A Prince is Synew-Shrunke, And Crampt, betwixt a Title, to keepe warme And Cold Convenients. |
† 3. A mistress, concubine. Obs.
| 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. iii, Dorimant's Convenient, Madam Loveit. 1688 Shadwell Sqr. Alsatia ii. i. 1708 Motteux Rabelais (1737) V. 217 Concubines, Convenients, Cracks. |