Comtism
(Com"tism) n. [Named after the French philosopher, Auguste Comte.] Positivism; the positive
philosophy. See Positivism.
Comtist
(Com"tist) n. A disciple of Comte; a positivist.
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.
Conacre
(Con*a"cre) v. t. To underlet a portion of, for a single crop; — said of a farm. [Ireland]
Conacre
(Con*a"cre), n. A system of letting a portion of a farm for a single crop. [Ireland] Also used
adjectively; as, the conacre system or principle. Mozley & W.
Conarium
(||Co*na"ri*um) n. [NL., fr. Gr. kwna`rion.] (Anat.) The pineal gland.
Conation
(Co*na"tion) n. [L. conatio.] (Philos.) The power or act which directs or impels to effort of
any kind, whether muscular or psychical.
Of conation, in other words, of desire and will.
J. S. Mill.
Conative
(Co"na*tive) a. [See Conatus.] Of or pertaining to conation.
This division of mind into the three great classes of the cognitive faculties, the feelings, . . . and the
exertive or conative powers, . . . was first promulgated by Kant.
Sir W. Hamilton.
Conatus
(||Co*na"tus) n. [L., fr. conatus, p. p. of conari to attempt.] A natural tendency inherent in
a body to develop itself; an attempt; an effort.
What conatus could give prickles to the porcupine or hedgehog, or to the sheep its fleece?
Paley.
Concamerate
(Con*cam"er*ate) v. t. [L. concameratus, p. p. of concamerare to arch over. See Camber.]
