Con*nive" (k&obreve;n*nīv"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Connived (- nīvd"); 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.

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.

• to cooperate with others secretly in order to commit a crime; to collude
  
• to plot or scheme
  
• to pretend to be ignorant of something in order to escape blame