Definition of connive

The word "connive" is derived from the Latin verb "concubare," which means to live together, especially in an intimate relationship outside of marriage. The Latin noun "concubitus" refers to such a relationship, and it also means to sleep alongside someone in bed. In English, the word "connive" first appears in the early 17th century, and it originally meant to wink, as in to close one eye while making a signal with the other. This meaning likely came from the idea of winking being a sign of secret understanding or complicity. Over time, the meaning of "connive" evolved to more generally refer to behaving in a way that one should not in order to facilitate or conceal wrongdoing. For example, someone who connives might look the other way while somethingShould be thought of as engaging in treacherous or underhanded behavior, and it conveys a sense of deceit, hypocrisy, and moral corruption. In summary, "connive" derives from a Latin word meaning to live with someone, which eventually came to mean winking secretly or engaging in some form of deception. It's a fascinating etymology that shows just how much distance lies between the contemporary meaning of the word and its historical roots.