con
English meaning: Con
Definition
To study or examine carefully, especially in order to gain knowledge of; to learn, or learn by heart.
Example
“Before deciding, list the pros and cons of each option.”
Another example: “The fraudster conned several pensioners out of their savings.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A noun, verb and prefix with several senses. Common: an argument against ('the pros and cons'). As a verb (informal): to trick or swindle ('con artist'). 'Con' also means a convict (slang) or 'against' in 'pro and con'. Mostly informal.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
The 'against' sense is short for Latin 'contra' ('against'); the 'swindle' sense is short for 'confidence (trick)', American slang from the 19th century.
Related Words
- brio
- leche
- carne
- todo
- sus
- dulce
- que
- por
- amor
- una
Common Collocations
- pros and cons
- con artist
- con man
- weigh the pros and cons
- pull a con
- con someone
Word Forms
con (n); cons (pl); con (v); conned; conning
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B