I.a swearing together.
I. Prop.
A. In gen.: “conjuratio fit in tumultu, i. e. Italico bello et Gallico quando vicinum urbis periculum singulos jurare non patitur,” Serv. ad Verg. A. 7, 615; cf. id. ib. 2, 157; 8, 1 and 5.—Hence, transf., a union or alliance: “quae haec est conjuratio! utin omnes mulieres eadem aeque studeant nolintque omnia,” Ter. Hec. 2, 1, 1: “urbana,” Plin. Pan. 70 fin.—
2. A levy en masse, an enlistment of the whole people (late Lat.), Serv. ad Verg. A. 7, 614; 8, 5.—
B. In a bad sense, a conspiracy, plot (in good prose; “most freq. in the histt.),” Cic. Cat. 2, 4, 6; Caes. B. G. 1, 2; Sall. C. 17, 1 et saep.: “si omnia facienda sunt, quae amici velint: non amicitiae tales, sed conjurationes putandae sunt,” Cic. Off. 3, 10, 44: “convicti adversum se conjurationis,” Eutr. 7, 21: “conjuratio nefanda in omne facinus ac libidinem,” Liv. 39, 38, 3.—
II. Meton. (abstr. pro concr.), the confederacy, the band of conspirators themselves: “perditorum hominum,” Cic. Cat. 1, 6, 13.