- Conniving
- Connive Con*nive" (k[o^]n*n[imac]v"), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
{Connived} (-n[imac]vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Conniving}.] [L.
connivere to shut the eyes, connive, fr. con- + (perh.) a
word akin to nicere to beckon, nictare to wink.]
1. To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
The artist is to teach them how to nod judiciously, and to connive with either eye. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
To connive at what it does not approve. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
The government thought it expedient, occasionally, to connive at the violation of this rule. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.