Now rare or Obs. [a. F. conspiration (13th c.), ad. L. conspīrātiōn-em, n. of action f. conspīrāre to CONSPIRE.]

1

  † 1.  The action of conspiring; = CONSPIRACY 1.

2

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 27662 (Cott.). O nith cums … conspiraciun [Cott. Galb. MS. Als of enuy comes … conspiraciones].

3

1388.  Wyclif, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 24. His seruauntis hadden swore to gyder [MS. 116 c. 1430 bi conspiracioun had sworyn] aȝens hym.

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c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, xlvi. 175. How Subyon … made conspyracyoun ayenste her for to take her and haue her to his wyff.

5

1528.  Roy, Sat., II. O cruell Kayface, full of crafty conspiracion.

6

1659.  Hammond, On Ps. lxxxiii. 6. Annot. 415. The conjunction and continual conspiration of the enemies of God.

7

1802.  Ann. Reg., 178. The best concerted plans of conspiration.

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  † 2.  A conspiracy, plot: = CONSPIRACY 2. Obs.

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a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xxvi. 5. Conspiracyons of oure foes.

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1502.  Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 282. The … consperacyons made and wrought there … ayenst your Hyghnes.

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1526.  Tindale, Acts xxiii. 13. They were aboute xl which had made this conspiracion.

12

a. 1693.  Urquhart, Rabelais, III. iii. 43. You would see a more dangerous Conspiration.

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c. 1850.  J. Churchill, Schiller’s Wallenst. Camp, xi. (Bohn), 167. ’Tis a conspiration—a plot, I say!

14

  3.  fig. Conspiring, joint aspiration and effort, for one end or purpose; = CONSPIRACY 3.

15

1607.  Walkington, Opt. Glass, 79. A conspiration of all faculties.

16

a. 1711.  Ken, Serm., Wks. (1838), 113. Gracious persons … in whose hearts there is a conspiration of all the graces of His Holy Spirit.

17

1836–7.  Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., v. (1859), I. 84. All together form, by their harmonious conspiration, a healthy whole.

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1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 545. One confession of faith, one conspiration of sanctity.

19

  4.  attrib.

20

1588.  Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 10. You of this conspiration house.

21