Con‐nive″ (kŏn‐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.
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.