con

¹

[ kon ]

adverb

1. against a proposition, opinion, etc.:

   arguments pro and con.

noun

1. the argument, position, arguer, or voter against something:

   The pros of the library project are obvious, but we have to consider the cons as well.

con

²

[ kon ]

verb (used with object)

, conned, con·ning.

1. to swindle; trick:

   That crook conned me out of all my savings.

2. to persuade by deception, cajolery, etc.:

   Don't worry, I can always con my dad into letting me use his car.

noun

1. a confidence game or swindle:

   By the time my uncle realized she was playing a con on him, she had already left town with his rare coin collection.

2. a lie, exaggeration, or glib self-serving talk:

   He had a dozen different cons for getting out of paying traffic tickets.

adjective

1. relating to or involving abuse of confidence:

   a slick con man;

   a con trick.

con

³

[ kon ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a convict:

   Her brother's a con up in Elmira.

con

⁴

[ kon ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a convention, especially one for fans of a particular type of popular culture:

   sci-fi, gaming, and anime cons.

con

⁵

[ kon ]

verb (used with object)

, conned, con·ning.

1. to learn; study; peruse or examine carefully:

   She's been conning her grandfather's medical diaries for months.

2. to commit to memory:

   I have conned the state capitals in alphabetical order, from Albany to Trenton.

con

⁶

or conn

[ kon ]

verb (used with object)

, conned, con·ning.

1. to direct the steering of (a ship):

   conning the freighter into port.

noun

1. the station of the person who cons:

   You will assume the con, ensign.

2. the act of conning:

   Storms from the northeast made for a difficult con.

con

⁷

[ kon ]

verb (used with object)

, British Dialect.

, conned, con·ning.

1. to strike, hit, or rap (something or someone):

   We think he was conned with a cricket bat.

2. to hammer (a nail or peg):

   Who knew conning tacks into the new carpet would take so long?

3. to beat or thrash (a person) with the hands or a weapon:

   He conned the poor guy in the pub for no apparent reason.

con-

⁸

1. variant of com- before a consonant (except b, h, l, p, r ) and, by assimilation, before n: convene; condone; connection.

con.

⁹

abbreviation for

1. concerto.
2. conclusion.
3. connection.
4. consolidated.
5. consul.
6. continued.
7. against.

Con.

¹⁰

abbreviation for

1. Conformist.
2. Consul.

con

¹

/ kɒn /

noun

1. slang.
   short for convict

con

²

/ kɒn /

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to study attentively or learn (esp in the phrase con by rote )

con

³

/ kɒn /

noun

1. 1. short for confidence trick
   2. ( as modifier )

      con man

verb

1. tr to swindle or defraud

con

⁴

/ kɒn /

preposition

1. music with

con-

⁵

prefix

1. a variant of com-

con

⁶

/ kɒn /

verb

1. tr to direct the steering of (a vessel)

noun

1. the place where a person who cons a vessel is stationed

Con.

⁷

abbreviation for

1. Conservative

con

⁸

/ kɒn /

noun

1. an argument or vote against a proposal, motion, etc
2. a person who argues or votes against a proposal, motion, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of con¹

First recorded in 1575–85; short for Latin contrā “in opposition, against”

Origin of con²

An Americanism first recorded in 1895–1900; by shortening of confidence

Origin of con³

First recorded in 1715–25; by shortening

Origin of con⁴

First recorded in 1940–45; by shortening

Origin of con⁵

First recorded before 1000; Middle English cunnen, Old English cunnan, variant of can ¹ in sense “become acquainted with, learn to know”

Origin of con⁶

First recorded in 1350–1400; earlier cond, apocopated variant of Middle English condie, condue, from Middle French cond(u)ire, from Latin condūcere “to conduct”

Origin of con⁷

First recorded in 1890–95; perhaps akin to French cognée “hatchet,” cogner “to knock in, drive (a nail) home”

Origin of con⁸

From Latin

Origin of con⁹

From the Latin word contrā

Word History and Origins

Origin of con¹

C15: variant of can ¹in the sense: to come to know

Origin of con²

C19: from confidence

Origin of con³

Italian

Origin of con⁴

C17 cun, from earlier condien to guide, from Old French conduire, from Latin condūcere; see conduct

Origin of con⁵

from Latin contrā against, opposed to

Example Sentences

Which? consumer expert Rob Lilley-Jones said such scams were happening with "increasing frequency", with those behind the cons using new technology.

From BBC

At that House hearing, this congressional con woman flipped the protesters' script, casting their intentions as genocidal and making university presidents seem like their enablers.

From Salon

He said every option has “pros and cons.”

From Los Angeles Times

He's just trying to sell the big con and gaslight the public into viewing him as the great defender of democracy.

From Salon

She’s been a potter, a poet and a felonious con artist.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bamboozle
• bilk
• dupe
• hoodwink
• swindle
• wheedle