conversation Copy link Outline I. Conduct generally (obsol. in this sense)II. Talk1. collŏquium (esp. but not solely, of conversation for some particular purpose2. sermo, ōnis, m. (the most general term for all kinds of discourse3. sermōcĭnātio (rare)4. congressus, congressio5. confābŭlātio (v. rare)III. Criminal c. • conversation: I. Conduct generally (obsol. in this sense): conversātio, vīta: v. conduct, behaviour. II. Talk: 1. collŏquium (esp. but not solely, of conversation for some particular purpose: v. conference: in the same sense is used collocutio, Cic.): he is not in want of another's c., colloquio alterius non eget, Cic.: the c.s of absent friends (i. e. epistolary correspondence), colloquia amicorum absentium, Cic.: to have secret c.s with any one, secreta c. cum aliquo serere, Liv. 2. sermo, ōnis, m. (the most general term for all kinds of discourse: q. v.): to carry on a c. with any one, s. cum aliquo conferre, Cic.; sermones caedere (comicé), Ter. Heaut. 2, 3, 1: they joined in much and various c., multa inter sese vario s. serebant, Virg.: to begin or open c., sermonem occipere, Ter.: to lengthen out c. purposely, longiorem consulto instituere s., Caes.: to prolong a feast till late in the night with varied c., convivium ad multam noctem vario s. producere: cf. Hor. aestivam sermone benigno tendere noctem; and Pl. diem terere sermone: the language of c. or correspondence, soluta oratio qualis in sermone et epistolis, Quint.: to become a topic of general c., in sermonem hominum venire, Cic. 3. sermōcĭnātio (rare): Gell. 4. congressus, congressio: v. interview. 5. confābŭlātio (v. rare): Symm. Phr.: to hold c. with any one, colloqui: v. to converse. III. Criminal c.: ădultĕrium: v. adultery.