Thesaurus: connive

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Definitions

1. v. i. To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink.
2. v. i. 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.
3. v. t. To shut the eyes to; to overlook; to pretend not to see.
4. v. encourage or assent to illegally or criminally
5. v. form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
6. 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. 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.
7. 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.
8. v:100 v. encourage or assent to illegally or criminally