If the opposite of con is pro then is the opposite of congress, progress? Or did I just blow your fucking mind?

winstonwolfe:alanfm78:lieslieslies:

America: the book.

I know this is supposed to be clever and witty and whatever. It is not anything more than etymologically ignorant.

Pros and cons is a modern abbreviation for the latin pro et contra, meaning “for and against.” While the prefix pro- bears the same meaning, contra- is not the same as the prefix con-, which means “with.” The root or suffix of the word, gress, means “to go,” so these words literally mean “to go forward” and “to go together.” Clearly, these two words are not opposites. 

So there… your Latin lesson for the day.