conversĭo, ōnis, f. [converto], a turning round, revolving, revolution (class.).
I Lit.
A In gen.: caeli, Cic. Div. 2, 42, 89; id. Univ. 6 med. ; id. Rep. 6, 18, 18: astrorum omnesque motus, id. Tusc. 1, 25, 62; cf. id. N. D. 2, 19, 49: caelestes, id. Leg. 1, 8, 24.—Hence,
2 The periodical return of the seasons, caused by the revolution of the heavenly bodies : mensium annorumque, Cic. Univ. 14 fin. —
B Esp., in medic. lang.,
a A turning round, inverting : vesicae, Plin. 8, 42, 67, § 166.—In plur.: vulvae, Plin. 24, 7, 23, § 39.—
b An abscess , Col. 6, 17, 6.—
II Trop.
A In gen., subversion, alteration, change : conversio et perturbatio rerum, Cic. Fl. 37, 94; cf. id. Div. 2, 2, 6: moderatio et conversio tempestatum, id. Fl. 13, 31 fin. —
B Esp., in rhet.,
1 The change or transfer from one species of composition to another , Quint. 10, 5, 4.—
2 The repetition of the same word at the end of a clause , ἀντιστροφή or ἐπιφορά, Cic. de Or. 3, 54, 207; Quint. 9, 1, 33 sq.; Auct. Her. 4, 13, 19 med. —
3 The rounding of a period , καμπή, συστροφή: sic enim has orationis conversiones Graeci nominant, Cic. de Or. 3, 48, 186: ut (oratio) conversiones habeat absolutas, id. ib. 3, 49, 190.—
C A moral change, conversion (late Lat.), Alcim. Avit. 6, 49; esp. with ad : ad verum Deum, Aug. Civ. Dei, 7, 33: ad unum verum Deum sanctumque, id. ib. 8, 24, 2.—
D A change of view or opinion : tanta conversio consecuta est, Plin. Ep. 9, 13, 18.