Tricking or deceiving someone, usually to get money or advantage from them; or steering a ship.
From 'con' which comes from 'confidence' as in 'confidence game.' The nautical sense comes from 'conduct' meaning to direct or guide.
A 'con artist' became famous because they build trust first—the con is the confidence itself, making them psychologically different from simple thieves, which is why con artists have fascinated true crime for centuries.
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