connive
verb (used without object)
to cooperate secretly; conspire (often followed bywith ).
were conniving
-
past progressiveof connive.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In many of them the Directors were heartily concurring; in most of them they were encouraging, and sometimes commanding; in all they were conniving.
From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 02 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
I heard they were conniving to do business in this district, but I haven't insulted you by paying any attention to rumors.
From The Ramrodders A Novel by Holman Day
All over my native land, men of hitherto unblemished integrity were conniving with me in urging their friends to go and hear Mrs. Amyot lecture on the reconciliation of science and religion!
From The Greater Inclination by Edith Wharton
"And yet I can assure you, monsieur, that we had the best reasons for believing that you were conniving at his escape."
From The Red Rat's Daughter by Guy Boothby
Yet they all probably felt the same curiosity about what was going forward, for it was plain that Mr. Wilmington and Colonel Marvin were conniving at the same point.
From Annie Kilburn : a Novel by William Dean Howells
