kəˈnīv verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: French or Latin; French conniver, from Latin conivēre, connivēre to close the eyes, wink, be indulgent, connive, from com- + -nivēre (akin to nictare to wink); akin to Old English & Old High German hnīgan to bow, bend, Gothic hneiwan to bow, Old Norse hnīga to bow, Latin nicere to beckon, and perhaps to Lithuanian knìbti to break by bending
intransitive verb
1. : to pretend ignorance or unawareness of something one ought morally or officially or legally to oppose : fail to take action against a known wrongdoing or misbehavior — usually used with at
connive at the violation of a law
2.
a. : to be indulgent, tolerant, or secretly in favor or sympathy : wink — usually used with at
connive at youthful follies
b. : to cooperate secretly : have a secret understanding — usually used with with
officials who were not above conniving with him in importing goods — J.A.Krout
3. : conspire , intrigue
she loved to connive with her friends in their amours — Helen Howe
he had declared that no candidate was ever chosen without conniving — Time
transitive verb
obsolete : to shut the eyes to : wink at