Literally, "to breathe together."

(Source: The Big Book of Conspiracies by Doug Moench (forward by Ivan Stang)).

Con*spir"a*cy (?), n.; pl. Conspiracies (#). [See Conspiration.]

1.

A combination of men for an evil purpose; as agreement, between two or more persons, to commit a crime in concert, as treason; a plot.

When shapen was all his conspiracy From point to point. Chaucer.

They made a conspiracy against [Amaziah]. 2 Kings xiv. 19.

I had forgot that foul conspiracy
Of the beast Caliban and his confederates. Shak.

2.

A concurence or general tendency, as of circumstances, to one event, as if by agreement.

A conspiracy in all heavenly and earthly things. Sir P. Sidney.

3. Law

An agreement, manifesting itself in words or deeds, by which two or more persons confederate to do an unlawful act, or to use unlawful to do an act which is lawful; confederacy.

Syn. -- Combination; plot; cabal.

 

© Webster 1913.

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