con

con¹

/kon/, adv.

1. against a proposition, opinion, etc.: arguments pro and con.

n.

2. the argument, position, arguer, or voter against something. Cf. pro¹.

[1575-85; short for L contra in opposition, against]

con²

/kon/, v.t., conned, conning.

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

2. to commit to memory.

[bef. 1000; ME cunnen, OE cunnan var. of CAN¹ in sense "become acquainted with, learn to know"]

con³

/kon/, v., conned, conning, n. Naut.

v.t.

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

n.

2. the station of the person who cons.

3. the act of conning.

Also, conn.

[1350-1400; earlier cond, apocopated var. of ME condie, condue < MF cond(u)ire < L conducere to CONDUCT]

con⁴

/kon/, adj., v., conned, conning, n. Informal.

adj.

1. involving abuse of confidence: a con trick.

v.t.

2. to swindle; trick: That crook conned me out of all my savings.

3. to persuade by deception, cajolery, etc.

n.

4. a confidence game or swindle.

5. a lie, exaggeration, or glib self-serving talk: He had a dozen different cons for getting out of paying traffic tickets.

[1895-1900, Amer.; by shortening of CONFIDENCE]

con⁵

/kon/, n. Slang.

a convict.

[1715-25; by shortening]

con⁶

/kon/, v.t., conned, conning. Brit. Dial.

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

2. to hammer (a nail or peg).

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

[1890-95; perh. akin to F cognée hatchet, cogner to knock in, drive (a nail) home]

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