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connive — to secretly allow or help bring about something wrong or illegal

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to secretly allow or help bring about something wrong or illegal

Pronunciation (IPA): /kəˈnaɪv/

Example Sentences

  • The principal connived with students to organize a surprise party for the strict math teacher.
  • She connived at her roommate's habit of eating her ice cream.
  • The security guard was accused of conniving with the thieves.

connive

VERB

[/kəˈnaɪv/]

to secretly allow or help bring about something wrong or illegal

The two managers connive to hide the missing funds before the audit begins.
💡 Concept

The two managers connive to hide the missing funds before the audit begins.

Connive to help them arrive, so they survive!
🎵 Rhyme

Connive to help them arrive, so they survive!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kəˈnaɪv/
🇬🇧 UK/kəˈnaɪv/

🌳Etymology

Prefixcon--
Rootniv

Origin

From Latin 'connivere' meaning 'to close one's eyes' or 'to wink at', composed of 'con-' (together) and 'nivere' (to blink or wink). The metaphorical sense of deliberately overlooking wrongdoing developed from the image of closing one's eyes to something.

Breakdown

con- (together, with) + -nive (from Latin nivere, to blink/wink) + -e (verb infinitive) = connive (to deliberately overlook or secretly allow something wrong)

🎵Rhyme

arrive
derive
survive
thrive
drive

🔗Collocations

connive at
connive with
secretly connive
connive to escape
connive in corruption

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The principal connived with students to organize a surprise party for the strict math teacher.”

😄 Fun example

“She connived at her roommate's habit of eating her ice cream.”

“The security guard was accused of conniving with the thieves.”

“Parents sometimes connive at their children's small lies to protect their feelings.”

📚Related Words

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