Word Finder - connive

definition

Often followed by with: to secretly cooperate with another person or persons in order to commit a crime or other wrongdoing; to collude, to conspire.

definition

Of parts of a plant: to be converging or in close contact; to be connivent.

definition

Often followed by at: to pretend to be ignorant of something in order to escape blame; to ignore or overlook a fault deliberately.

synonyms

• dissimulate
• look the other way
• shut one's eyes
• turn a blind eye
• wink

definition

To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink.

We should not connive at the destruction of imaginations, not even to alleviate boredom.

Or did he connive with his wife's adultery to further his own career?

The passages of the New Testament which seem to connive at the married relation were interpreted by the Cathars as spoken in regard of Christ and the church.

For the same reason the city found itself compelled at first to connive at their illegal representation on 'Change, and then to violate its own rules by permitting them to act as brokers without previously taking up the freedom.

The state, represented by the emperor Phocas, is persuaded to connive at the pope's assumption of spiritual authority; the other churches are intimidated into acquiescence; Lucifer's projects seem fully accomplished, when Heaven raises up Henry VIII.

None could be procured; the public passion swept everything before it; the patent was cancelled; Wood was compensated by a pension; Swift was raised to a height of popularity which he retained for the rest of his life; and the only real sufferers were the Irish people, who lost a convenience so badly needed that they might well have afforded to connive at Wood's illicit profits.