con English · revision 6823

+ 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.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɒn/ ''(UK)''; /kɑn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|study, learn}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1425|origins=ang cunnan}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|connen]], a variant of [[m|enm|cunnen]], [[inh|ang|cunnan|t=to know, know how]] (see [[can]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) with its vowel from the Old English present forms con, can, and partly from the weak Old English [[m|ang|cunnian]].^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==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.^(Barnhart 1988) Hoad notes that it is not clearly separate from ''cun'' before the 15th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The old senses of knowing were taken over by [[can]].^(SOED 2002) Con came to mean to commit to memory and to peruse or scan carefully.^(Hoad 1986)^(AHD) In northern and Midland dialect it meant to meditate on something in order to learn it.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1325 – conned, in ''con thanks''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1425 – to study, memorize.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To study or examine carefully; to [[peruse]].^(AHD)

+ # To learn or commit to [[memory]].^(AHD)

+

+ {{homograph|2|against}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1572|origins=la contra}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adverb is short for [[der|la|contrā|t=against]] (see [[contra]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Against a proposition: 1572, originally in ''pro and con'',^(Barnhart 1988) the 1570s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a reason or argument against, is from 1589,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) chiefly in ''pros and cons''; it can also mean a person who argues or votes against.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1572 – pro and con.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1589 – an argument against.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In opposition; against.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An argument or reason against something, chiefly in ''[[pros and cons]]''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who holds an opposing view.^(AHD)

+

+ {{homograph|3|steer a ship}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1626|origins=la conduco}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The nautical verb is a reduced form of obsolete cond, from condue,^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) [[bor|fro|conduire|t=to conduct, guide]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|conduco|alt=condūcere|t=to lead together]] (see [[conduct]]).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To direct the steering of a ship: 1626 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the 1620s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, the action or post of conning a ship, is from 1825.^(Etymonline) The ''conning tower'', the armoured pilot house of a warship and later of a submarine, is from 1865.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1626 – to steer a ship.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1825 – the post of conning.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1865 – conning tower.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To direct the steering of a ship.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The control or post of the person steering a ship.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[conning tower]]

+

+ {{homograph|4|swindle}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1889}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The slang word is short for [[confidence]], in confidence man (1849) or confidence game,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from the many scams in which the victim is persuaded to hand over money as a token of confidence.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Swindling, in ''con man'': 1889, in American English.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to swindle, is from 1896,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''con artist'' is from 1910.^(Etymonline) The verb has also come to mean to persuade by deceit.^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1849 – confidence man.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – con man.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1896 – the verb, to swindle.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1910 – con artist.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(informal)'' To [[swindle]] or trick someone, especially after winning their trust.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[confidence trick]]; a swindle.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[con man]]

+ * [[con artist]]

+ * [[con game]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[couth]]

+ * [[cuddle]]

+ * [[cunning]]

+ * [[ken]]

+ * [[unconned]]

+ * [[pros and cons]]

+ * [[can]]

+ * [[contra]]

+ * [[conduct]]

+ * [[confidence]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Con is also slang for a [[convict]] (1893),^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and short for [[convention]], especially a meeting of science-fiction fans (late 20th century).^(SOED 2002) In ''mod con'' it is short for [[convenience]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}