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Where does the word "conspire" come from? It comes from Latin conspirare, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "conspire" come from? It comes from Latin conspirare, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Conspire’s story begins in Latin: conspirare meant “to breathe together, to plot.” To breathe together, to plot together, from com- (together) and spirare (to breathe). It reached English by 1300s as conspire. Settled as the English word for secretly planning something with others. Today, conspire means to secretly plan something harmful or illegal together with others.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient conspirare "to breathe together, to plot", to breathe together, to plot together, from com- (together) and spirare (to breathe).
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s conspire "to secretly plan something wrongful with others", settled as the English word for secretly planning something with others.