CON • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Con

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/kɑn/ Listen

verb

Con v. t. (past & past part. conned; pres. part. conning)

To know; to understand; to acknowledge. (Obs.) "Of muses, Hobbinol, I con no skill." "They say they con to heaven the highway."

To study in order to know; to peruse; to learn; to commit to memory; to regard studiously. "Fixedly did look Upon the muddy waters which he conned As if he had been reading in a book." "I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson."

To con answer, to be able to answer. (Obs.)

To con thanks, to thank; to acknowledge obligation. (Obs.)

Con v. t. (Naut.) To conduct, or superintend the steering of (a vessel); to watch the course of (a vessel) and direct the helmsman how to steer.

adverb

Con adv. Against the affirmative side; in opposition; on the negative side; The antithesis of pro, and usually in connection with it. See Pro.

prefix

Con- pref. A prefix, fr. L. cum, signifying with, together, etc. See Com-.

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Etymology of 'Con'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Con" Quotes from Famous Books

... neither the partner nor the opponent with whom she delighted to co-operate. Lady Longspade liked to play first-fiddle at her own table; but Miss Ruff always played first-fiddle at her table, let the others be whom they might; and she very generally played her tunes altogether "con spirito." ...

— The Bertrams • Anthony Trollope

... by your manly wisdom and learned skill. This is the more to be wondered at, for seldom or never can the like be found in a young body; but it comes to you by the special grace of God, as it does to me. How pleased we both feel when we think well of ourselves, I with my picture, and you con vostra [with your] learning! When anyone praises us we hold up our head and believe him, yet perhaps he is only some false flatterer who is making fun of us, so don't credit anyone who praises you, for you have no notion ...

— Memoirs of Journeys to Venice and the Low Countries - [This is our volunteer's translation of the title] • Albrecht Durer

... "Comin' to con me," growls the ex-convict. "Don't want any o' his connin', not I. Jack Striker can keep a ship on her course well's him, or any ...

— The Flag of Distress - A Story of the South Sea • Mayne Reid

... and thirds of elaborate ornamentation and monotone of mood. Yet it is a lovely, imploring melody, and harmonically most interesting. A curious marking, and usually overlooked by pianists, is the crescendo and con forza of the cadenza. This is obviously erroneous. The theme, which occurs three times, should first be piano, then pianissimo, and lastly forte. This opus is ...

— Chopin: The Man and His Music • James Huneker

... the cry, and "no bells we will try, Unless you will fasten them on;" So quite broken-hearted the members departed, For the bill was rejected nem. con. ...

— Aesop, in Rhyme - Old Friends in a New Dress • Marmaduke Park

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