"conspire in fraud or deception," 1520s, from Latin colludere "act collusively," literally "to play with" (see collusion). Related: Colluded; colluder; colluding.
Entries linking to collude
collusion n.
"secret agreement for fraudulent or harmful purposes," late 14c., from Old French collusion and directly from Latin collusionem (nominative collusio) "act of colluding," from colludere, from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see com-) + ludere "to play" (see ludicrous). "The notion of fraud or underhandedness is essential to collusion" [Fowler].
collusive adj.
"fraudulently or secretly done between two or more," 1670s, from Latin collus-, past participle stem of colludere (see collude) + -ive. Related: Collusively; collusiveness. Alternative adjective collusory (from Late Latin collusorius) is attested from 1706.