conduce

verb

1. (formal, obsolete, transitive)To cause (something) to occur; to bring about.

   “And vvell aſſured you may be, the King's Highneſs upon Sight of theſe your ſaid Letters, not only much commended your great Diligence and provident Dexterity, in the vviſe conducing of theſe his vveighty Matters, vvhereby ye have deſerved his ſingular Favour and Thanks, but alſo took great Rejoicing, Conſolation and Comfort, in this honourable, princely and loving Demeanour of the ſaid French King: […]”

   “[T]he King's Grace vvell knovveth, perceiveth, and taketh, that more could not have been done, excogitated, or deviſed, than ye have largely endeavoured your ſelf unto for conducing the King's purpoſe, […]”

2. (formal, obsolete, transitive)To contribute (something).
3. (also, figuratively, formal, obsolete, transitive)To conduct or lead (someone or something).

   “At laſt to conduce things to ſome order out of this Chaos of confuſion, their moſt learned Hiſtorian Elifarni, tooke vpon him to make ſtraight theſe crooked poſtures: […]”

4. (formal, obsolete, rare, transitive)To advantage or benefit (someone or something).
5. (formal, obsolete, possibly, rare, transitive)To carry on or continue (an activity).

   “VVithin my ſoule there doth conduce a fight / Of this ſtrange nature, that a thing inſeparat, / Diuides more vvider then the skie and earth: […]”

6. (formal, intransitive)To contribute or lead to a specific result.

   “The reaſons you alleadge, do more conduce / To the hot paſſion of diſtempred blood, / Then to make vp a free determination / Tvvixt right and vvrong: […]”

   “The Boaring of Holes, in that kinde of VVood, and then laying it abroad, ſeemeth to conduce to make it Shine: […]”

   “'Tis true, if Mythologie, and not demonſtrative reaſons vvere to be fixt upon in matters of Architecture, the former conceptions might be ſome ground to frame conjectures Stoneheng ſacred to Pan. But, Architecture depending upon demonſtration, not fancy, the fictions of Mythologiſts are no further to be embraced, then as not impertinently conducing to prove reall truths.”

   “In the Study of Philoſophy men […] endeavour to find out the certainty of ſomething in queſtion; as vvhat is the cauſe of Light, of Heat, of Gravity, of a Figure propounded, and the like; or in vvhat Subject any propounded Accident is inhærent; or vvhat may conduce moſt to the generation of ſome propounded Effect from many Accidents; or in vvhat manner particular Cauſes ought to be compounded for the production of ſome certaine Effect.”

   “It [i.e., holy discipline] conduceth to the conviction and ſalvation of the unbelieving vvorld, vvho are not capable of judging of our doctrine by it ſelf, but vvill judge of it by the quality of the Church that doth profeſs it.”

7. (formal, intransitive, obsolete)To be advantageous to; to advantage, to benefit.

   “So [Julius Caesar] Scaliger of himſelfe ingenuouſly confeſſeth, […] I am mightily detained and allured vvith that grace & comelineſſe of faire vvomen, I am vvell pleaſed to bee idle amongſt them. And vvhat young man is not? As is acceptable and conducing to moſt, ſo eſpecially to a melancholy man.”

   “Decoctions are made of Leaves, Roots, Flovvers, Seeds, Fruits, or Barks, conducing to the cure of the Diſease you make them for; in the ſame manner as they are made as vve ſhevved you in Syrups.”

   “[O]nely be mindfull of me and of thirst; Theſe conduce much to the vviſe.”