Etymology : Middle English, from Latin convenient-, conveniens, from present participle of convenire to come together, be suitable, from com- + venire to come; more at COME
Pronunciation : k&n-'vEn-y&nt
Function : adjective
Date : 14th century
1. serviceable; comfortable; useful. convenient\con*ven"ient\ (?; 277), a. [l. conveniens, -entis, suitable, p. pr. of convenire to be suitable, to come. see:
convene, v. i.].
2. fit or adapted; suitable; proper; becoming; appropriate. [archaic] feed me with food convenient for me. xxx.
3. neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. v.
4. 2. affording accommodation or advantage; well adapted to use; handly; as, a convenient house; convenient implements or tools.
5. seasonable; timely; opportune; as, a convenient occasion; a convenient season. xxiv.
6. 4. near at hand; easy of access. [colloq.] hereties used to be brought thither, convenient for burning.
7. Fit or adapted; suitable; proper; becoming; appropriate.
8. Affording accommodation or advantage; well adapted to use; handly; as, a convenient house; convenient implements or tools.
9. Seasonable; timely; opportune; as, a convenient occasion; a convenient season.
10. Near at hand; easy of access. easy to reach; "found a handy spot for the can opener" suited to your comfort or purpose or needs; "a convenient excuse for not going".
11. 1. If a way of doing something is convenient, it is easy, or very useful or suitable for a particular purpose. a flexible and convenient way of paying for business expenses The family thought it was more convenient to eat in the kitchen. ¡Ù inconvenient + convenience con·veni·ence They may use a credit card for convenience. + conveniently con·veni·ent·ly The body spray slips conveniently into your sports bag for freshening up after a game.
12. approval If you describe a place as convenient, you are pleased because it is near to where you are, or because you can reach another place from there quickly and easily. The town is well placed for easy access to London and convenient for Heathrow Airport Martin drove along until he found a convenient parking place. = handy + conveniently con·veni·ent·ly It was very conveniently situated just across the road from the City Reference Library.
13. A convenient time to do something, for example to meet someone, is a time when you are free to do it or would like to do it. Would this evening be convenient for you? ¡Ù inconvenient.
14. disapproval If you describe someone's attitudes or actions as convenient, you think they are only adopting those attitudes or performing those actions in order to avoid something difficult or unpleasant. We cannot make this minority a convenient excuse to turn our backs It does seem a bit convenient, doesn't it? + conveniently con·veni·ent·ly They've conveniently forgotten the risk of heart disease Conveniently, he had developed amnesia about that part of his life.