conspire
Definitions
To secretly plan with others to do something harmful or illegal.
密谋，共谋（与他人秘密策划有害或非法之事）。
(Of events or circumstances) to seem to combine, as if by agreement, to produce a result.
（指事件、情况）仿佛串通般共同促成某结果。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcon- (together) + spire (breathe) = 'to breathe together.' Picture plotters huddled so close their breath mingles, whispering a secret plan. That image of shared breath is exactly a conspiracy. By extension, circumstances can 'conspire' — seeming to act in secret agreement against you.
Root spir still carries 34 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.conspire to do密谋做某事
- 2.conspire with someone与某人合谋
- 3.conspire against someone合谋对付某人
Example Sentences
- 1.
They conspired to overthrow the government.
- 2.
The two executives conspired to hide the company's losses.
- 3.
Bad weather and a flat tire conspired to ruin our trip.
Easily Confused
conspire vs collaborate — both mean working together, but conspire is secret and usually for a bad or illegal end (conspire to defraud). collaborate is open and neutral-to-positive (collaborate on a project). The shared-breath huddle of conspire is hidden; collaboration is out in the open.