Connive

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Connived 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The artist is to teach them how to nod judiciously, and to connive with either eye. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

To connive at what it does not approve. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The government thought it expedient, occasionally, to connive at the violation of this rule. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]