'persuade' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'persuadere', where 'per-' meant 'thoroughly' and 'suadere' meant 'to advise or urge'.

'persuade' changed from Latin 'persuadere' to Old French 'persuader' and Middle English forms such as 'perswaden', eventually becoming the modern English 'persuade'.

Initially, it meant 'to advise or urge thoroughly', but over time it evolved into the current sense of 'to convince or cause someone to do or believe something by argument or appeal'.