Knive

Verb

1. Misspelling of connive

Usage notes

This misspelling is based on the mistaken assumption that connive is actually knive as a verb (compare knife and knives) with a pronounced , as or . This perception of connive associates that word's definition with backstabbing and its figurative association with knives. Since kn is typically not pronounced this way in English words, it may be perceived as a slang pronunciation of the otherwise nonexistent verb knive . The standard verb for using a knife is knife, which is identical to the noun form.