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Can you help with the origin . . . ?

Posted by Bruce Kahl on March 25, 2001

In Reply to: Can you help with the origin . . . ? posted by LoobyBird on March 25, 2001

: of "pros and cons". I have searched just about every resource on the web and simply cannot find the origin of the phrase "pros and cons"?

From Merriam Webster:

Main Entry: 1pro
Pronunciation: 'prO
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural pros
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, preposition, for -- more at FOR
Date: 15th century
1 : an argument or evidence in affirmation
2 : the affirmative side or one holding it

From a Latin Dictionary:

contra Adv. , [opposite, over against, on the opposite side]; of equivalence, [in return, back]; of difference, [otherwise]; of opposition,[against]. Prep. with acc., [opposite to, over against; against, in opposition to].

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