conng inover their lessons

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GoodTaste

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Does "conning over their lessons" mean "cheating on their lessons"? Just a guess here.

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The school-house stood in a rather lonely but pleasant situation, just at the foot of a woody hill, with a brook running close by, and a formidable birch tree growing at one end of it. From hence the low murmur of his pupils' voices, conning over their lessons, might be heard of a drowsy summer's day, like the hum of a beehive; interrupted now and then by the authoritative voice of the master, in the tone of menace or command; or, peradventure, by the appalling sound of the birch, as he urged some tardy loiterer along the flowery path of knowledge. Truth to say, he was a conscientious man, and ever bore in mind the golden maxim, "Spare the rod and spoil the child."- Ichabod Crane's scholars certainly were not spoiled.

Source:
http://www.castleofspirits.com/sleepyh1.html
 
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It should be 'conning over their lessons', and has nothing to do with cheating.

(Note that 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' was written 200 years ago. We don't use the verb 'con' – meaning 'study' or 'memorise' – much these days, except in cryptic crossword clues.)
 
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