What does connive mean?
Word: Connive
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Connive means to plan something secretly with someone, usually something you should not do; it can also mean to quietly allow something wrong to happen.
Synonyms: plot, scheme
Word origin: Comes from French conniver or Latin connivere.
How do you spell connive?
Syllables: con - nive
Tricky part: There are two n's: one ends con and one starts nive. Students who say it quickly write conive.
Watch out for: conive, konnive
Memory tip: People who connive need a partner, so the word needs two n's: one for each person in the secret plan.
Connive in a sentence
Example 1: Dev connived with his sister to keep the new puppy hidden in his room until Papa came home.
Example 2: The whole class connived to plan a surprise farewell for their teacher.
Example 3: The shopkeeper would not connive at anyone skipping the queue.
Fun Fact
The Latin verb connivere meant to shut the eyes, so connive first meant pretending not to see a fault; the sense of secret planning grew later.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Fill the blanks with 'o' and 'i'. Which option gives the meaning of that word?
1. d__pr__ve 2. s__rv__ve 3. c__nn__ve 4. r__v__ve
a) to bring something back into use
b) to continue to live or exist
c) to plan secretly with someone to do something wrong
d) to take something away from someone
Show answer
c) to plan secretly with someone to do something wrong. Only c__nn__ve becomes a word with o and i: connive.
Sound Check
In which word is 'con' pronounced differently?
a) condition
b) connive
c) confess
d) concert
Show answer
d) concert. Concert starts with a strong 'kon'; in connive, confess and condition con is a weak 'kuhn'.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
The twins began to ___ with their cousin to hide the last laddoo before anyone else could find it.
a) connive
b) convey
c) confine
d) confide
Show answer
a) connive. A secret plan made together to do something sneaky is conniving.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
vnoecin 1234567
a) 5326714
b) 5327614
c) 5371624
d) 5732614
Show answer
b) 5327614. Start with the c at 5, add the o and both n's, then i, v and e: connive.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A librarian who connives at noisy chatter ___.
a) reports it to the principal
b) pretends not to notice it
c) complains loudly about it
d) writes it in a notebook
Show answer
b) pretends not to notice it
2. Which pair of children is conniving?
a) two who ask their teacher a question
b) two who secretly plan to hide the TV remote
c) two who openly share a box of crayons
d) two who tidy the classroom together
Show answer
b) two who secretly plan to hide the TV remote
