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What is the difference between ken and con?

ken | con | Related terms |

Con is a related term of ken.



As nouns the difference between ken and con

is that ken is knowledge or perception while con is a disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).

As verbs the difference between ken and con

is that ken is {{context|lang=en|transitive|mostly|Scotland}} To know, perceive or understand while con is to study, especially in order to gain knowledge of.

As proper nouns the difference between ken and con

is that ken is a diminutive of the male given name Kenneth while Con is a male given name, a diminutive form of Conor or Cornelius.

As an initialism CON is

Certificate of Need.

ken

English

Etymology 1

Northern and Scottish dialects from (etyl) . The noun meaning “range of sight” is a nautical abbreviation of present participle kenning.

Noun

(-)
  • Knowledge or perception.
  • Range of sight.
    • Usage notes
    In common usage a (fossil word), found only in the phrase .
    Coordinate terms
    * (nautical range of sight) (l)
    Quotations
    * (English Citations of "ken")

    Verb

  • To know, perceive or understand.
  • To discover by sight; to catch sight of; to descry.
  • * 1662 Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (Dialogue 2):
    • I proposed to the Mariners, that it would be of great benefit in Navigation to make use of [the telescope] upon the round-top of a ship, to discover and kenne Vessels afar off.
  • * Addison
    • We ken them from afar.''
  • * Shakespeare
    • 'Tis he. I ken the manner of his gait.
    Quotations
    * (English Citations of "ken")
    Derived terms
    * beken * foreken * kenned * kenning * misken * underken * unkenned
    References
    * * * * *

    Etymology 2

    Perhaps from kennel.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (slang, UK, obsolete) A house, especially a den of thieves.
    • English irregular verbs ----

    con

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) connen, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

    (conn)
  • (rare) To study, especially in order to gain knowledge of.
  • * Wordsworth
    • Fixedly did look / Upon the muddy waters which he conned / As if he had been reading in a book.
  • * Burke
    • I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson.
  • * 1963 , D'Arcy Niland, Dadda jumped over two elephants: short stories :
    • The hawk rested on a crag of the gorge and conned the terrain with a fierce and frowning eye.''
  • (rare, archaic) To know, understand, acknowledge.
  • * 1579 , , Iune:
    • Of Muses Hobbinol, I conne no skill
  • to conduct the movements of a ship at sea.
    • Related terms
    * ken * unconned

    Etymology 2

    Abbreviation of (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros ).
    • pros and cons
    Synonyms
    * disadvantage
    Antonyms
    * pro
    Related terms
    * pros and cons

    Etymology 3

    Shortened from (convict).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (slang) A convicted criminal, a convict.

    • Etymology 4

    From (con trick), shortened from (confidence trick).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (slang) A fraud; something carried out with the intention of deceiving, usually for personal, often illegal, gain.
    • Synonyms
    * See also

    Verb

    (conn)
  • (slang) To trick or defraud, usually for personal gain.
    • Synonyms
    * (to be conned) be sold a pup

    Related terms

    * con artist * con game * con man * con trick

    Etymology 5

    From earlier (cond), from (etyl) conduen, from (etyl) conduire, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • (nautical) To give the necessary orders to the helmsman to steer a ship in the required direction through a channel etc. (rather than steer a compass direction)

    • Noun

    (-)
  • (nautical) The navigational direction of a ship
    • Derived terms
    * conning tower * take the con

    Etymology 6

    or (conference).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An organized gathering such as a convention or conference.

    • See also

    * cone * mod cons

    Anagrams

    * English three-letter words ----