[f. L. conspīrātio CONSPIRATION, with substitution of the ending -ACY q.v. A single example of conspiratie in 16th-c. F. is given by Godefroy.]
1. The action of conspiring; combination of persons for an evil or unlawful purpose.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Monk’s T., 621. Brutus and Cassius … Ful prively hath made conspiracie Agains this Julius in subtil wise.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 5. Enpresoned falslich … by fals conspiracie.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., V. i. Made a partner in conspiracie.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 301. Open-ey’d Conspiracie His time doth take.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 751. Combin’d In bold conspiracy against Heav’ns King.
a. 1832. Bentham, Just. & Codif. Petit., Wks. 1843, V. 485. In the very import of the word conspiracy is therefore included the conspiracy to do a bad thing.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Self-Reliance, Wks. (Bohn), I. 20. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.
b. Law.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. xi. 275. The crime of conspiracy consists in the agreement of two or more persons to do an illegal act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means.
2. (with a and pl.) A combination of persons for an evil or unlawful purpose; an agreement between two or more persons to do something criminal, illegal, or reprehensible (especially in relation to treason, sedition, or murder); a plot.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 149. Whan schapen was al this conspiracye Fro poynt to poynt.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., V. lxxxvi. 64. Hauynge knowlege of the sayde conspiracy.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 34. Fearing greater deceytes and conspiracies.
1632. Star Chamb. Cases (Camden), 170. I hould here is a conspiracie by Travers and Frost and his daughter.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. (1843), 66/2. In all conspiracies there must be great secrecy.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. 81. A secret conspiracy had been formed against his person and government.
1839. G. P. R. James, Louis XIV., I. 105. Rumours of a conspiracy became general.
† b. A body or band of conspirators. Obs.
1555. Eden, Decades, 53. The captayne of this conspiracie was slayne.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxiv. 2. Conspiracie … may bee taken as well for a companye that consult about mischeef, as for the mischeef itself they have devysed.
1600. Holland, Livy, VII. xli. 279. Urged by those of the conspiracie [ab conjuratis].
3. fig. Union or combination (of persons or things) for one end or purpose; harmonious action or effort; = CONSPIRATION 3. (In a good or neutral sense.) Obs. or arch.
1538. Starkey, England, I. i. 11. That thys cyvyle lyfe was … a conspyracy in honesty and vertue.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, III. 382 (D.). So is the conspiracy of her several graces, held best together to make one perfect figure of beauty.
a. 1677. Barrow, Wks. (1830), I. 191. There will be a conspiracy and faithful correspondence between our mind and our tongue.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., 229. To discern this Harmony and beautiful conspiracy of things.
1847. Emerson, Ode to Beauty, Wks. (Bohn), I. 450. All that’s good and great with thee Works in close conspiracy.
