Word: conspiracy Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English conspiracie, from Anglo-Norman conspiracie, from Latin cōnspīrātiō, from conspire + -acy. Pronunciation: /kənˈspɪɹəsi/, /kənˈspəɹəsi/ 1. An agreement or arrangement between multiple parties to do something harmful, immoral or subversive; an instance of collusion. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Conspiracies, like all other exercises of human ingenuity, are of very different kinds. The gloomy plots arranged in old Italian halls... Example: And you may have noticed that those who are too quick to shout 'conspiracy theorist' are equally swift, when consequences for authority and consensus impend, to look serious and say 'It's more complicated than that.' These have become standard damage-control reflexes. 2. An agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A secret agreement to do something. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable Example: The former programme of the entertainments, which were to result from this generous conspiracy to assist a man whom fortune had buffeted, was eagerly looked for, not only for the reunion of old favorites that it promised to bring about, but out of sympathy for the sentiment which has prompted this graceful act of kindness. Example: On another occasion, some months later, when Currita's birthday, the 10th of October, and feast of St. Francis Borgia, was approaching, the two children were plotting together a conspiracy to give their mother a surprise. 4. An agreement to work together to bring something about; an act or instance of conspiring. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable Example: But this I call civil life […] living [together] in good and politic order, one ever ready to do good to another, and as it were conspiring [together] in all virtue and honesty. […] You said right now that this civil life was a politic order and, as it were, a conspiracy in honesty and virtue, […] Example: You may even find yourself using your new awareness and insight to assist others in their recovery process. A conspiracy to enable others joins the minds of all who seek faces of recovery. 5. A group of ravens. Labels: collective, countable, rare, uncountable 6. A group of lemurs. Labels: collective, countable, rare, uncountable Example: Indeed, as I sat, forlorn, never having found my particular conspiracy of lemurs (how about that for a name for a group of lemurs? The name lemur itself comes from the Latin for “spirits of the dead”) … Example: The Oregon Zoo welcomed two red-ruffed lemurs this week, bringing the total number in the conspiracy — the name for a group of lemurs — to seven. 7. A situation in which different phonological or grammatical rules lead to similar or related outcomes. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: That is, further exploration of phonological systems of various languages may turn up evidence motivating conspiracies that have been regarded thus far as impossible.[…]This study of labial palatalization conspiracy is a contribution to the 'too many solutions'/'too few data' problem. 8. A conspiracy theory; a hypothesis alleging conspiracy. Labels: countable, proscribed, uncountable Example: Rather than propagating conspiracies about the evils of wealthy Jewry, they beat up poor Roma in back alleys. Example: The internet helps spread conspiracies, but it can also be used to verify claims made by politicians and the media.