connive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb encourage or assent to illegally or criminally
  2. verb form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
    scheme; intrigue.

WordNet

Con*nive" intransitive verb
Etymology
L. connivere to shut the eues, connive, fr. con- + (perh.) a word akin to nicere to beckon, nictare to wink.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Connived ; present participle & verbal noun Conniving
Definitions
  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.
Con*nive" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To shut the eyes to; to overlook; to pretend not to see. R. & Obs. "Divorces were not connived only, but with eye open allowed." Milton.

Webster 1913