con 1
/kon/ , adv.
1. against a proposition, opinion, etc.: arguments pro and con.
n.
2. the argument, position, arguer, or voter against something. Cf. pro 1 .
[ 1575-85; short for L contra in opposition, against ]
con 2
/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 CAN 1 in sense "become acquainted with, learn to know" ]
con 3
/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 cond ( u ) ire conducere to CONDUCT ]
con 4
/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 ]
con 5
/kon/ , n. Slang.
a convict.
[ 1715-25; by shortening ]
con 6
/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 ]