A Quick and Simple Dictionary

persuasion

1. Noun.  The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc. (defdate, from 14th c.) .
2. Noun.  An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone. (defdate, from 14th c.) .
3. Noun.  A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
4. Noun.  One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
5. Noun.  A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology. (defdate, from 17th c.) .
6. Noun.  (context, colloquial) Any group having a specified characteristic or attribute in common. (defdate, from 19th c.) .