From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Con \Con\, verb (used with an object) [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}, verb (used with an object) & 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.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: an argument opposed to a proposal [ant: {pro}]
2: a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison [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}]
adverb
1: on the negative side; "much was written pro and con" [syn: {in opposition}] [ant: {pro}]
verb
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}]
2: commit to memory; learn by heart; "Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?" [syn: {memorize}, {memorise}, {learn}] [also: {conning}, {conned}]
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