con-
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
con1
(kɒn)
adv. 1. against a proposition, opinion, etc.: arguments pro and con.
n. 2. the argument, position, arguer, or voter against something. Compare
pro 1. [1575–85; short for Latin contrā in opposition]
con2
(kɒn)
v.t. conned, con•ning. 1. to peruse or examine carefully; study.
2. to commit to memory; learn.
[before 1000; Middle English
cunnen, Old English
cunnan, variant of
can1 in sense “become acquainted with”]
con3
or conn
(kɒn)
v. conned, con•ning,
n. v.t. 1. to direct the steering of (a ship).
n. 2. the station of the person who cons a ship.
[1350–1400; earlier
cond, apocopated variant of Middle English
condie, condue < Middle French
cond(u)ire < Latin
condūcere to
conduct]
con4
(kɒn)
adj., v. conned, con•ning,
n. adj. 1. involving abuse of confidence; deceitfully manipulative: a con trick.
v.t. 2. to swindle; trick.
3. to persuade by deception, cajolery, etc.
n. 4. a confidence game or swindle.
5. a lie, exaggeration, or glib self-serving talk.
con5
(kɒn)
n. Informal. a convict.
[1715–25; by shortening]
con-
var. of
com- before a consonant (except
b, h, l, p, r):
convene; condone; connection. [< Latin]
Con.
Consul.
con.
1. concerto.
2. conclusion.
3. connection.
4. consolidated.
5. consul.
6. continued.
7. against.
[< Latin contrā]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.