conduce

verb

con·​duce kən-ˈdüs 

-ˈdyüs

conduced; conducing

intransitive verb

: to lead or tend to a particular and often desirable result : contribute

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conducen "to guide, lead," borrowed from Latin condūcere "to bring together, join, hire, be of advantage, be conducive (to)" (Medieval Latin also "to lead, escort, provide a channel for [water]"), from con- con- + dūcere "to lead, conduct, take (to a place)" — more at tow entry 1

Note: In Vulgar, i.e., spoken Latin, the verb condūcere took on the basic senses of the simplex dūcere, which gradually faded from use, so that the Romance progeny of condūcere (as French conduire, Italian condurre, Spanish conducir, etc.) came to mean primarily "to lead, conduct." This shift in sense also exerted considerable influence on the meaning of Latin condūcere and its derivatives as employed in Medieval Latin.

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

conduce

verb

con·​duce kən-ˈd(y)üs 

conduced; conducing

: to lead or tend to a usually desirable result

conducive

-ˈd(y)ü-siv

adjective

conduciveness noun