8 results for: connive
con·nive
Audio Help [kuh-nahyv] Pronunciation Key
Audio Help [kuh-nahyv] Pronunciation Key –verb (used without object), -nived, -niv·ing.
| 1. | to cooperate secretly; conspire (often fol. 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 fol. by at): The policeman connived at traffic violations. |
| 3. | to be indulgent toward something others oppose or criticize (usually fol. by at): to connive at childlike exaggerations. |
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
connive
To learn more about connive visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| con·nive
Audio Help (kə-nīv') Pronunciation Key
intr.v. con·nived, con·niv·ing, con·nives
[Latin cōnīvēre, connīvēre, to close the eyes.] con·niv'er n., con·niv'er·y n. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
connive
1602, from L. 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, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| connive | |
verb | |
| 1. | encourage or assent to illegally or criminally |
| 2. | form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner [syn: scheme] |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
connive [kəˈnaiv] verb
(with at) to make no attempt to hinder (something wrong or illegal)
Example: Her mother connived at the child's truancy.
Example: Her mother connived at the child's truancy.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Main Entry: con·nive
Pronunciation: k&-'nIv
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: con·nived; con·niv·ing
Etymology:
Latin con(n)ivere to close one's eyes, knowingly overlook something
: to assent knowingly and wrongfully without opposition to another's wrongdoing; specifically : to
knowingly consent to a spouse's marital misconduct and esp. to adultery
| Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
Connive
Con*nive"\ (k[o^]n*n[imac]v"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Connived (-n[imac]vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Conniving.] [L. connivere to shut the eyes, connive, fr. con- + (perh.) a word akin to nicere to beckon, nictare to wink.]1. To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink. [Obs.] The artist is to teach them how to nod judiciously, and to connive with either eye. --Spectator. 2. To close the eyes upon a fault; to wink (at); to fail or forbear by intention to discover an act; to permit a proceeding, as if not aware of it; -- usually followed by at. To connive at what it does not approve. --Jer. Taylor. In many of these, the directors were heartily concurring; in most of them, they were encouraging, and sometimes commanding; in all they were conniving. --Burke. The government thought it expedient, occasionally, to connive at the violation of this rule. --Macaulay.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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