Nearby Words

connive

[kuh-nahyv] Example Sentences Origin

con·nive

[kuh-nahyv]
verb (used without object), -nived, -niv·ing.
1.
to cooperate secretly; conspire (often followed by with): They connived to take over the business.
2.
to avoid noticing something that one is expected to oppose or condemn; give aid to wrongdoing by forbearing to act or speak (usually followed by at): The policeman connived at traffic violations.
3.
to be indulgent toward something others oppose or criticize (usually followed by at): to connive at childlike exaggerations.

Origin:
1595–1605; (< French conniver) < Latin co(n)nīvēre to close the eyes in sleep, turn a blind eye, equivalent to con- con- + -nīvēre, akin to nictāre to blink (compare nictitate)

con·niv·er, noun
con·niv·ing·ly, adverb
un·con·nived, adjective
un·con·niv·ing, adjective

connive, conspire.


1. plan, plot, collude.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Connive is always a great word to know.
So is congregate. Does it mean:
assemble in large numbers
willful and obstinate resistance or disobedience to authority
Example Sentences
  • She will have to cheat, fight, connive and bully her way through her entire administration and nothing good will come of.
  • Someone will break the rules and, as often as not, someone else will have reason to connive with them.
  • At this point we're handing them public money with which to connive against the public interest.
Collins
World English Dictionary
connive (kəˈnaɪv)
 
vb
1.  to plot together, esp secretly; conspire
2.  (foll by at) law to give assent or encouragement (to the commission of a wrong)
 
[C17: from French conniver, from Latin connīvēre to blink, hence, leave uncensured; -nīvēre related to nictāre to wink]
 
con'niver
 
n
 
con'nivingly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

connive
c.1600, from L. connivere, also conivere "to wink," from com- "together" + base akin to nictare "to wink," from PIE base *knei-gwh- "to bend." Hence, "to wink at (a crime), be secretly privy."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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