convenience

plural conveniences

1. countableuncountableThe quality of being convenient.

   Fast food is popular because of its cost and convenience.

   2 more examples

   Let's further think of this; / Weigh what convenience both of time and means / May fit us to our shape.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii]

   Thus first Necessity invented stools, / Convenience next suggested elbow-chairs[…]

   1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: amenity

2. countableuncountableAny object that makes life more convenient; a helpful item.

   A pair of spectacles[…] and several other little conveniences.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput)

   3 more examples

   ...let Fanchette come in a hackney-coach in the morning, and I will direct the housekeeper to send you something of every thing—plate, candlesticks, lamps, damask—and you won't take it amiss if we should happen to have game or poultry come up that I put that amongst the conveniences;...

   1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 223

   There was a bookshelf with a number of tattered volumes, and a few conveniences in the way of cupboards, which appeared to have been contrived out of a packing case by a hasty man, with a blunt axe.

   1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 7

   It's over there, it's over there / My building has every convenience / It's gonna make life easy for me

   1977, David Byrne, “Don't Worry About the Government”, in Talking Heads: 77, performed by Talking Heads

3. countableuncountableA convenient time.

   We will come over and begin the work at your convenience.

4. UKabbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of public convenience (“a public lavatory”).

   Synonyms: bathroom, latrine, necessarium, toilet, toilet room, urinal, water closet, WC

present singular third person conveniences · participle present conveniencing · participle past convenienced · past convenienced

1. To make convenient.

   These are equally viable times and I propose we alternate between the two times in order to convenience as many people as possible.

   Antonyms: inconvenience