con
UK: kɒn | US: kɑːn
n. a disadvantage, argument, or person against something (short for "contra")
vt. to deceive or trick someone (short for "confidence trick")
adj. relating to opposition or disadvantage (e.g., "pros and cons")
The word "con" originates from the Latin preposition "contra," meaning "against." It entered English as an abbreviation for "contra" in debates (e.g., "pros and cons") and later evolved into slang for deception (e.g., "con artist"), derived from "confidence trick." Its dual meanings reflect opposition (literal) and deceit (figurative).
The pros and cons of the proposal were debated thoroughly.
He was conned into buying a fake painting.
She listed the cons of moving to a new city.
The scammer conned elderly victims out of their savings.
Always weigh the cons before making a decision.