Convey, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conveyed; p.pr. & vb.n. Conveying.]
Etymology: [OF. conveir, convoier, to escort, convoy, F. convoyer, LL. conviare, fr. L. con- + via way. See Viaduct, Voyage, and cf. Convoy.]
1. To carry from one place to another; to bear or transport. I will convey them by sea in fleats. 1 Kings v. 9. Convey me to my bed, then to my grave. Shak.
2. To cause to pass from one place or person to another; to serve as a medium in carrying (anything) from one place or person to another; to transmit; as, air conveys sound; words convey ideas.
3. To transfer or deliver to another; to make over, as property; more strictly (Law), to transfer (real estate) or pass (a title to real estate) by a sealed writing. The Earl of Desmond . . . secretly conveyed all his lands to feoffees in trust. Spenser.
4. To impart or communicate; as, to convey an impression; to convey information. Men fill one another's heads with noise and sound, but convey not thereby their thoughts. Locke.
4 more senses
5. To manage with privacy; to carry out. [Obs.] I . . . will convey the business as I shall find means. Shak.
6. To carry or take away secretly; to steal; to thieve. [Obs.]
7. To accompany; to convoy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn. -- To carry; transport; bear; transmit; trnsfer.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Convey, v. i.
To play the thief; to steal. [Cant] But as I am Crack, I will convey, crossbite, and cheat upon Simplicius. Marston.
Shades of meaning
Convey, transmit, and transport all imply delivery at a destination; as, I will convey the information to your friend; air conveys sound (to a listener); carry does not necessarily imply delivery, and often does not admit of it. A man carries an appearance, conveys an impression, the appearance remaining his own, the impression being given to another; I will transmit the letter; transport the goods. A horse carries his mane and tail, but does not convey them. Transfer may or may not imply delivery to another person; as, items may be transferred from one account to another or a word transferred to the following line. In law, real estate, which can not be moved, is conveyed by simply transferring title and possession. Transport usually refers to material, transfer, transmit, and convey may refer to immaterial objects; we transfer possession, transmit intelligence, convey ideas, but do not transport them. In the case of convey the figurative sense now predominates. Compare carry.
Prepositions
Convey to a friend, a purchaser, etc.; convey from the house to the station; convey by express, by hand, etc.