con
1
[ kon ]
/ kɒn /
adverb
against a proposition, opinion, etc.: arguments pro and con.
noun
the argument, position, arguer, or voter against something.
Compare
pro1.
Origin of con
1
1575–85; short for Latin
contrā in opposition, against
Words nearby con
comtesse,
comtian,
comtism,
comus,
comédie française,
con,
con amore,
con anima,
con artist,
con brio,
con dolore
Definition for con (2 of 10)
con
2
[ kon ]
/ kɒn /
verb (used with object), conned, con·ning.
to learn; study; peruse or examine carefully.
to commit to memory.
Origin of con
2
before 1000; Middle English
cunnen, Old English
cunnan variant of
can1 in sense “become acquainted with, learn to know”
Definition for con (3 of 10)
con
3
or conn
[ kon ]
/ kɒn /
verb (used with object), conned, con·ning.
to direct the steering of (a ship).
noun
the station of the person who cons.
the act of conning.
Origin of con
3
1350–1400; earlier
cond, apocopated variant of Middle English
condie, condue < Middle French
cond(u)ire < Latin
condūcere to
conduct
Definition for con (4 of 10)
con
4
[ kon ]
/ kɒn /
adjective
involving abuse of confidence: a con trick.
verb (used with object), conned, con·ning.
to swindle; trick: That crook conned me out of all my savings.
to persuade by deception, cajolery, etc.
noun
a confidence game or swindle.
a lie, exaggeration, or glib self-serving talk: He had a dozen different cons for getting out of paying traffic tickets.
Origin of con
4
1895–1900,
Americanism; by shortening of
confidence
Definition for con (5 of 10)
con
5
[ kon ]
/ kɒn /
noun Informal.
a convention, especially one for fans of a particular type of popular culture: sci-fi, gaming, and anime cons.
Origin of con
5
First recorded in 1940–45; by shortening
Definition for con (6 of 10)
con
6
[ kon ]
/ kɒn /
noun Slang.
a convict.
Origin of con
6
First recorded in 1715–25; by shortening
Definition for con (7 of 10)
con
7
[ kon ]
/ kɒn /
verb (used with object), conned, con·ning. British Dialect.
to strike, hit, or rap (something or someone).
to hammer (a nail or peg).
to beat or thrash a person with the hands or a weapon.
Origin of con
7
1890–95; perhaps akin to French
cognée hatchet,
cogner to knock in, drive (a nail) home
Definition for con (8 of 10)
con-
variant of com- before a consonant (except b, h, l, p, r) and, by assimilation, before n: convene; condone; connection.
Origin of con-
From Latin
Definition for con (9 of 10)
con.
Origin of con.
From the Latin word
contrā
Definition for con (10 of 10)
Example sentences from the Web for con
British Dictionary definitions for con (1 of 8)
con
1
/ (kɒn) informal /
noun
- short for confidence trick
- (as modifier)con man
verb cons, conning or conned
(tr)
to swindle or defraud
Word Origin for con
C19: from
confidence
British Dictionary definitions for con (2 of 8)
con
2
/ (kɒn) /
noun (usually plural)
an argument or vote against a proposal, motion, etc
a person who argues or votes against a proposal, motion, etc
Compare
pro 1See also
pros and cons
Word Origin for con
from Latin
contrā against, opposed to
British Dictionary definitions for con (3 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for con (4 of 8)
con
4
esp US conn
nautical
verb cons, conns, conning or conned
(tr)
to direct the steering of (a vessel)
noun
the place where a person who cons a vessel is stationed
Word Origin for con
C17
cun, from earlier
condien to guide, from Old French
conduire, from Latin
condūcere; see
conduct
British Dictionary definitions for con (5 of 8)
con
5
/ (kɒn) /
verb cons, conning or conned
(tr) archaic
to study attentively or learn (esp in the phrase con by rote)
Word Origin for con
C15: variant of
can
1 in the sense: to come to know
British Dictionary definitions for con (6 of 8)
con
6
/ (kɒn) /
preposition
music
with
Word Origin for con
Italian
British Dictionary definitions for con (7 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for con (8 of 8)
Con.
abbreviation for
Conservative
Medical definitions for con
con-
pref.
Variant ofcom-