ven-, vent-, veni-, ventu-

1. To come or to meet together, especially for a common purpose: The students convened in the auditorium to listen to a graduate of the school who was currently an ambassador to France.
2. To assemble for united actions; to meet in a convention: The mayor of the city convened with some of the citizens in an effort to resolve a few issues regarding an increase in local taxes.
3. To associate with others in harmony with each other: A panel of employees was convened by the president of the company to review their profits and losses. © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. The quality of being easy, useful, or of increasing comfort: It was definitely a convenience to have the take-out service deliver the food to the office since the employees had no time to go out for their meals.
2. Personal comfort, or circumstances that promote someone’s personal comfort: The cabinet maker said he would come by to the convenience of his customers.
3. Something that makes life easier or more comfortable, especially a labor-saving device: It is certainly a convenience having a dishwasher instead of having to wash all the dishes by hand!
4. In the U.K., a lavatory, a euphemism for a public toilet: The tourists looked for a convenience near the subway in London.

1. Relating to something useful or suitable because it makes things easier, or does not involve much effort or trouble: The date for the staff meeting was not convenient for all the teachers, only for some.
2. Concerning something within easy reach; easily accessible; handy; close by: The store is quite convenient because it is just two minutes away from home.

1. Pertaining to how something fits one's purpose or desire, sometimes to one's advantage or opportunity: Janet conveniently forgot to tell her mother that she would be out that evening.
2. Descriptive of how something is available for personal ease, facility, or comfort; readily; without trouble or difficulty: The box of tissues was conveniently placed next to the sofa for Mrs. Jones to reach easily.

1. A company of men or women living together in the discipline of a religious order and under one superior: A convent can be a body of monks, friars, or nuns forming one local community.

A convent can also be applied to a Buddhist or other non-Christian monastic institution.
2. A building where a group of nuns live and work; abbey: Mary's aunt was a sister who had her home in an old convent that was covered with ivy and had a wonderful garden with very old trees.

1. A religious meeting or assembly of a private, clandestine, or illegal kind: The people who got together secretly for their monthly conventicle were those with nonconformist views.
2. A meetinghouse for the exercise of religion, particularly for those who are not conformists: Lynn's parents were Quakers who went to the conventicle in town, and which was a place of refuge for conscientious objectors.

1. The action of summoning an assembly: A convention can be the act of convening or getting together as in a union or coalition.
2. An assembly or gathering of persons for some common object: A convention is especially a formal assembly met for deliberation or legislation on ecclesiastical, political, or social matters or other important issues.
3. The manner in which something is normal done; custom; tradition: Jack and Jill decided to skip the convention of having a Christmas tree and of giving each other presents for Christmas, but instead just have a fancy candlelight dinner!

Relating to something which is in accordance with what is generally done as established by social customs: While microwaves heat up food more quickly, most meals seem to taste better when they are cooked on a conventional stove. © ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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The conformity to something that is generally established or accepted: The couple decided to observe the conventionalism of having a church wedding and invite all their friends and relatives.

An individual who supports proper, traditional, or prevailing beliefs: Mr. Proper was definitely a conventionalist who always adhered to the established and socially approved code of ethics.

1. The condition of adhering to socially accepted norms: It is quite a conventionality that men do not wear dresses and skirts in Canada.
2. A standard form, usage, idea, or practice: Conventionalities can be seen in certain traditions or customs in a country, like not working on Sundays in Germany!

To adapt to accepted norms, traditions, or customs: Jill didn't like her parents trying to conventionalize her behavior because she didn't always want to say polite things to her aunt, whom she really didn't like!

Ordinarily; normally; in the usual way: Tom always talks and acts very conventionally in his group of new friends in school because he wants to be accepted by them.

Concerning a convent or life in a convent; monastic; cloistered: The conventual priors, or the heads of the religious order, all lived in a monastery.

Relating to how life exists in a convent: The murder was committed conventually, very secluded and sequestered, and far away from the outside world.