conspiratory
ə noun, plural con·spir·a·cies.
1.
the act of conspiring.
2.
an evil, unlawful, treacherous, or surreptitious plan formulated in secret by two or more persons; plot.
3.
a combination of persons for a secret, unlawful, or evil purpose: He joined the conspiracy to overthrow the government.
4.
Law. an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act.
5.
any concurrence in action; combination in bringing about a given result.
Origin:
1325–75; Middle English conspiracie, probably < Anglo-French; see conspire, -acy; replacing Middle English conspiracioun; see conspiration
1325–75; Middle English conspiracie, probably < Anglo-French; see conspire, -acy; replacing Middle English conspiracioun; see conspiration
Related forms
con·spir·a·tive, adjective
con·spir·a·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
non·con·spir·a·to·ri·al, adjective
pre·con·spir·a·cy, noun, plural pre·con·spir·a·cies.
Synonyms
1. collusion, sedition. 2. Conspiracy, plot, intrigue, cabal all refer to surreptitious or covert schemes to accomplish some end, most often an evil one. A conspiracy usually involves a group entering into a secret agreement to achieve some illicit or harmful objective: a vicious conspiracy to control prices. A plot is a carefully planned secret scheme, usually by a small number of persons, to secure sinister ends: a plot to seize control of a company. An intrigue usually involves duplicity and deceit aimed at achieving either personal advantage or criminal or treasonous objectives: the petty intrigues of civil servants. Cabal refers either to a plan by a small group of highly-placed persons to overthrow or control a government, or to the group of persons themselves: a cabal of powerful lawmakers.
1. collusion, sedition. 2. Conspiracy, plot, intrigue, cabal all refer to surreptitious or covert schemes to accomplish some end, most often an evil one. A conspiracy usually involves a group entering into a secret agreement to achieve some illicit or harmful objective: a vicious conspiracy to control prices. A plot is a carefully planned secret scheme, usually by a small number of persons, to secure sinister ends: a plot to seize control of a company. An intrigue usually involves duplicity and deceit aimed at achieving either personal advantage or criminal or treasonous objectives: the petty intrigues of civil servants. Cabal refers either to a plan by a small group of highly-placed persons to overthrow or control a government, or to the group of persons themselves: a cabal of powerful lawmakers.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To conspiratory
00:10
Conspiratory
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
conspiracy (kənˈspɪrəsɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -cies | |
| 1. | a secret plan or agreement to carry out an illegal or harmful act, esp with political motivation; plot |
| 2. | the act of making such plans in secret |
| con'spirator | |
| —n | |
| conspiratorial | |
| —adj | |
| con'spiratory | |
| —adj | |
| conspira'torially | |
| —adv | |
| conspiracy (kənˈspɪrəsɪ) | |
| —n , pl -cies | |
| 1. | a secret plan or agreement to carry out an illegal or harmful act, esp with political motivation; plot |
| 2. | the act of making such plans in secret |
| con'spirator | |
| —n | |
| conspiratorial | |
| —adj | |
| con'spiratory | |
| —adj | |
| conspira'torially | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
conspiracy
late 14c., from L. conspiratio, noun of action from conspirare (see conspire); earlier conspiration (c.1300), from Fr. conspiration (13c.), from L. conspirationem, acc. of conspiratio. As a term in law, from 1863. Conspiracy theory is from 1909.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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