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con

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English has several words spelled con: the verb to study or learn, the adverb against, the verb to steer a ship, and the slang swindle.[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kɒn/ (UK); /kɑn/ (US)[4]

con1 study, learn

Etymology

The verb is inherited from Middle English connen, a variant of cunnen, inherited from Old English cunnan (“to know, know how”) (see can),[1][2][5] with its vowel from the Old English present forms con, can, and partly from the weak Old English cunnian.[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

To study or learn by heart: about 1425, in Andrew of Wyntoun's Chronicle, in Barnhart, though conned as a past tense of con thanks, to give thanks, is found by 1325.[1] Hoad notes that it is not clearly separate from cun before the 15th century.[2]

Semantic evolution

The old senses of knowing were taken over by can.[3] Con came to mean to commit to memory and to peruse or scan carefully.[2][6] In northern and Midland dialect it meant to meditate on something in order to learn it.[7]

Timeline

  • 1325 – conned, in con thanks.[1]
  • c. 1425 – to study, memorize.[1]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. (archaic) To study or examine carefully; to peruse.
  2. To learn or commit to memory.

con2 against

Etymology

The adverb is short for from Latin contrā (“against”) (see contra).[1][8][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Against a proposition: 1572, originally in pro and con,[1] the 1570s in Etymonline.[8]

Semantic evolution

The noun, a reason or argument against, is from 1589,[1][5] chiefly in pros and cons; it can also mean a person who argues or votes against.[3][6]

Timeline

  • 1572 – pro and con.[1]
  • 1589 – an argument against.[1][5]

Modern meaning

Adverb

  1. In opposition; against.

Noun

  1. An argument or reason against something, chiefly in pros and cons.
  2. A person who holds an opposing view.

con3 steer a ship

Etymology

The nautical verb is a reduced form of obsolete cond, from condue,[2][3] borrowed from Old French conduire (“to conduct, guide”),[8][2] from Latin condūcere (“to lead together”) (see conduct).[8][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

To direct the steering of a ship: 1626 in the OED,[9] the 1620s in Etymonline.[8]

Semantic evolution

The noun, the action or post of conning a ship, is from 1825.[8] The conning tower, the armoured pilot house of a warship and later of a submarine, is from 1865.[8][2]

Timeline

  • 1626 – to steer a ship.[9]
  • 1825 – the post of conning.[8]
  • 1865 – conning tower.[8]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To direct the steering of a ship.

Noun

  1. The control or post of the person steering a ship.

Word family

  • conning tower

con4 swindle

Etymology

The slang word is short for confidence, in confidence man (1849) or confidence game,[1][8][2] from the many scams in which the victim is persuaded to hand over money as a token of confidence.[8][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Swindling, in con man: 1889, in American English.[1][8]

Semantic evolution

The verb, to swindle, is from 1896,[1] and con artist is from 1910.[8] The verb has also come to mean to persuade by deceit.[3][10]

Timeline

  • 1849 – confidence man.[8]
  • 1889 – con man.[1][8]
  • 1896 – the verb, to swindle.[1]
  • 1910 – con artist.[8]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. (informal) To swindle or trick someone, especially after winning their trust.

Noun

  1. (informal) A confidence trick; a swindle.

Word family

  • con man
  • con artist
  • con game

Usage notes

Con is also slang for a convict (1893),[1][3] and short for convention, especially a meeting of science-fiction fans (late 20th century).[3] In mod con it is short for convenience.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  5. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  7. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ a b Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  10. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins