The spelling of the phrase "connive at" may be confusing due to the pronunciation of the word "connive". The IPA phonetic transcription for "connive" is /kəˈnaɪv/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "i" and "e" in the word are pronounced as "ai" (as in "kite") and "ɪ" (as in "sit"), respectively. When combined with "at", the phrase means to "secretly allow or encourage something wrong, immoral, or illegal to happen". Remember to stress the second syllable of "connive" when pronouncing the phrase.
The phrase "connive at" is a verb phrase, typically used in a negative context, and is commonly defined as the act of secretly or covertly cooperating, approving, or encouraging an illegal, unethical, or morally wrong action or behavior. When someone connives at something, they are intentionally turning a blind eye to what is occurring, and often play a passive or active role in allowing and facilitating the questionable conduct.
By conniving at an act, a person recognizes its unlawfulness or immorality, yet chooses not to intervene or take action against it. This behavior implies complicity, collusion, or a tacit agreement with the person or individuals involved in the wrongful act. It is important to note that conniving at something does not necessarily imply active participation but rather the deliberate omission to act when one possesses knowledge or suspicion of the misconduct.
The concept of conniving at an action is often criticized due to its inherently deceptive and dishonest nature. It can have damaging consequences, such as perpetuating corruption, compromising justice, or undermining ethical standards. The act of conniving at something reflects a lack of personal integrity or a misplaced loyalty.
In summary, to connive at is to silently cooperate, approve, or aid in an illicit, unethical, or morally wrong action while deliberately choosing not to intervene, thus implying complicity or passive agreement.
The word connive originated from the Latin word coniuvare, which means to wink or to close one's eyes. In late Middle English, this evolved into conive, meaning to conspire together. The phrase connive at developed in the 16th century by combining connive with the preposition at. Over time, connive at came to mean to secretly allow or overlook wrongdoing, or to cooperate with someone in a wrongful act.