[1880–85; in-3 + conscient conscious (‹ F conscient) ‹ L conscient-, s. of consciēns, prp. of conscīre, orig., to have on one's conscience, equiv. to con- con- + scīre to know]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: highball, impressionism, irredentist, pari-mutuel, regionalismcon- is a prefix meaning “with,” “together,” “in association,” and (with intensive force)“completely”. Other words that use the affix con- include: conglomerate, connect, contact, contract, custom