connive Hear it!

connive Definition

con·nive (kə nīv′)

intransitive verb -·nived′, -·niv′·ing

  1. to pretend not to see or look (at something wrong or evil), thus giving tacit consent or cooperation; feign ignorance of another's wrongdoing
    1. to cooperate secretly (with someone), esp. in wrongdoing; conspire
    2. to scheme in an underhanded way

Etymology: < L conivere, to wink, connive < com-, intens. + base akin to nictare, to wink < IE base *knei-gwh-, to bend > Goth hneiwan, to bend, bow, OE hnigian, to bow (the head)

connive Related Forms

con·niv′er noun

connive Usage Examples

Object

  • servant: There are two conniving servants who help the plot and the intrigue along.
  • plan: Is this just a conniving plan to lure Crash into another dastardly experiment?
  • way: When Libby learns of this, she vows to put an end to Geri's conniving ways.

Preposition: at

  • murder: Gervase accuses him of having connived at the murder of Becket.
  • destruction: We should not connive at the destruction of imaginations, not even to alleviate boredom.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: We should not connive at the destruction of imaginations, not even to alleviate boredom.
  • also: Society as a whole also connives in the denial.
  • already: But the Government, true to form, is already conniving to fix the hearing in favor of the appeal.