Definition: con

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

con
     n 1: an argument opposed to a proposal [ant: pro]
     2: a person serving a prison sentence [syn: convict, inmate,
         jailbird, gaolbird]
     3: a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a
        person to buy worthless property [syn: bunco, bunco
        game, bunko, bunko game, confidence trick, confidence
        game, con game, gyp, hustle, sting, flimflam]
     adv : on the negative side; "much was written pro and con" [syn: in
           opposition] [ant: pro]
     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: swindle, rook, goldbrick, nobble,
          diddle, bunco, defraud, scam, mulct, gyp]
     2: commit to memory; learn by heart [syn: memorize, learn]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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

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.

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.]

            Of muses, Hobbinol, I con no skill.   --Spenser.

            They say they con to heaven the highway. --Spenser.

   2. 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.
                                                  --Wordsworth.

            I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson.
                                                  --Burke.

   To con answer, to be able to answer. [Obs.]

   To con thanks, to thank; to acknowledge obligation. [Obs.]
      --Shak.

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.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10)

con

   [SF fandom] A science-fiction convention.  Not used of other
   sorts of conventions, such as professional meetings.  This
   term, unlike many others of SF-fan slang, is widely recognised
   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."

   [Jargon File]

Source: Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

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."