Conspiratory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to or involving a secret plan or agreement between two or more people to do something unlawful or harmful
2. Pertaining to a plot or scheme executed in secrecy by individuals who conspire to achieve illicit or malevolent objectives
3. Connected with a collaborative effort that involves hidden agreements among people aiming to carry out illegal or harmful actions

Etymology: Latin "conspirare" meant "to breathe together," from "com-" ("together") and "spirare" ("to breathe"). The verb could describe people acting in harmony as well as people plotting, so the sense of secret agreement came from the idea of united purpose. The English noun "conspiracy" comes from Latin "conspiratio," and "conspirator" from Latin "conspirator." The adjective "conspiratory" adds the suffix "-ory," meaning "relating to," so it describes anything connected with such a plot.

Synonyms: conspiratorial, collusive, secretive, sneaky, deceptive