[syn: memorize, memorise, con, learn]
ADVERB (1)
1. in opposition to a proposition, opinion, etc.;
- Example: "much was written pro and con"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Con- \Con-\
A prefix, fr. L. cum, signifying with, together, etc. See
Com-.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Con \Con\, adv. [Abbrev. from L. contra against.]
Against the affirmative side; in opposition; on the negative
side; -- The antithesis of pro, and usually in connection
with it. See Pro.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Con \Con\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conning.] [AS. cunnan to know, be able, and (derived from
this) cunnian to try, test. See Can, v. t. & i.]
1. To know; to understand; to acknowledge. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Of muses, Hobbinol, I con no skill. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
They say they con to heaven the highway. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
2. To study in order to know; to peruse; to learn; to commit
to memory; to regard studiously.
[1913 Webster]
Fixedly did look
Upon the muddy waters which he conned
As if he had been reading in a book. --Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]
I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson.
--Burke.
[1913 Webster]
To con answer, to be able to answer. [Obs.]
To con thanks, to thank; to acknowledge obligation. [Obs.]
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Con \Con\, v. t. [See Cond.] (Naut.)
To conduct, or superintend the steering of (a vessel); to
watch the course of (a vessel) and direct the helmsman how to
steer.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
con
adv 1: in opposition to a proposition, opinion, etc.; "much was
written pro and con" [ant: pro]
n 1: an argument opposed to a proposal [ant: pro]
2: a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison [syn:
convict, con, inmate, yard bird, yardbird]
3: a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person
to buy worthless property [syn: bunco, bunco game,
bunko, bunko game, con, confidence trick, confidence
game, con game, gyp, hustle, sting, flimflam]
v 1: deprive of by deceit; "He swindled me out of my
inheritance"; "She defrauded the customers who trusted
her"; "the cashier gypped me when he gave me too little
change" [syn: victimize, swindle, rook, goldbrick,
nobble, diddle, bunco, defraud, scam, mulct,
gyp, gip, hornswoggle, short-change, con]
2: commit to memory; learn by heart; "Have you memorized your
lines for the play yet?" [syn: memorize, memorise, con,
learn]
The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
con
n.
[from SF fandom] A science-fiction convention. Not used of other sorts of
conventions, such as professional meetings. This term, unlike many others
imported from SF-fan slang, is widely recognized even by hackers who aren't
fans. “We'd been corresponding on the net for months, then we met
face-to-face at a con.”