con
n.
1
"negation" (mainly in pro and con), 1570s, short for Latin contra "against" (see contra).
2
"study," early 15c., from Old English cunnan "to know, know how" (see can, v.1).
3
a slang or colloquial shortening of various nouns beginning in con-, such as, from the 19th century, confidant, conundrum, conformist, convict, contract, and from the 20th century, conductor, conservative.
adj.
"swindling," 1889, American English, from confidence man (1849), from the many scams in which the victim is induced to hand over money as a token of confidence. Confidence with a sense of "assurance based on insufficient grounds" dates from 1590s.
v.
1
"to guide ships," 1620s, from French conduire "to conduct, lead, guide" (10c.), from Latin conducere (see conduce). Related: Conned; conning.
2
"to swindle," 1896, from con, adj.. Related: Conned; conning.
☞ co, cog, col, coll, con, com, cor
☞ com, con
☞ com, con