con·spir·a·cy (k n-spîr -s )n. pl. con·spir·a·cies 1. An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act. 2. A group of conspirators. 3. Law An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime or accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action. 4. A joining or acting together, as if by sinister design: a conspiracy of wind and tide that devastated coastal areas. [Middle English conspiracie, from Anglo-Norman, probably alteration of Old French conspiration, from Latin c  nsp r ti, cnsprtin-, from cnsprtus, past participle of cnsprre, to conspire; see conspire.] |
conspiracy [kənˈspɪrəsɪ]
Conspiracy a body or band of conspirators, 1386.
Conspiracy
hand in glove Intimately associated, on very familiar terms; closely related or connected; in cahoots, in conspiracy. Literary use of the expression dates from the late 17th century when it was properly hand and glove, a form now rarely heard. In contemporary usage the expression often carries connotations of illicit or improper association.
in cahoots In league or in partnership; in conspiracy; also to go in cahoots or cahoot with, meaning to join up with, to become partners; and go cahoots meaning to share equally. This U.S. slang expression, dating from 1829, is said to have derived from the kind of partnership that was expected of early American pioneers who shared a frontier cabin, or engaged in a joint venture. Originally, the phrase may have come from the French cahute ‘cabin, hut,’ although Dutch kajuit and German kajüte have also been suggested as possibilities.
| Noun | 1. | conspiracy - a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act conspiracy of silence - a conspiracy not to talk about some situation or event; "there was a conspiracy of silence about police brutality" agreement, understanding - the statement (oral or written) of an exchange of promises; "they had an agreement that they would not interfere in each other's business"; "there was an understanding between management and the workers" |
| 2. | conspiracy - a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot) plot, secret plan, game - a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal); "they concocted a plot to discredit the governor"; "I saw through his little game from the start" Gunpowder Plot - a conspiracy in 1605 in England to blow up James I and the Houses of Parliament to avenge the persecution of Catholics in England; led by Guy Fawkes political science, politics, government - the study of government of states and other political units | |
| 3. | conspiracy - a group of conspirators banded together to achieve some harmful or illegal purpose |
conspiracy
a conspiracy of silence → une conspiration du silence
conspiracy theory n → thèse f du complot
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