connive
kuh-NIVEverbMeaning to plot secretly, or to let a wrong happen by looking away
Memory hook CON + NIVE: shut your eyes to a CON. The museum guard covers his eyes while Rex tiptoes past with the jewel; by pretending not to see, the guard connives at the theft.
The two brothers connived to sneak the stray puppy into the house without their parents noticing.
In context The night guard connived at the theft: he watched the thieves on his camera screen, then shut his eyes and said nothing.
Similar plot, scheme, conspire, collude
From Latin connivere, “to shut the eyes,” and so to pretend not to see.