3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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.] 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Connive  \Con*nive"\,  v.  t. 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  connive 
  v  1:  encourage  or  assent  to  illegally;  in  criminal  behavior 
  2:  form  intrigues  for  in  an  underhand  manner  [syn:  {scheme}, 
  {intrigue}] 

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