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more about conniving
conniving |
2 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 WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: conniving adj 1: acting together in secret toward a fraudulent or illegal end [syn: {collusive}] 2: used of persons; "the most calculating and selfish men in the community" [syn: {calculating}, {calculative}, {scheming}, {shrewd}]
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