- conspiracy
- late 14c., from L. conspiratio, noun of action from conspirare (see conspire); earlier conspiration (c.1300), from Fr. conspiration (13c.), from L. conspirationem, acc. of conspiratio. As a term in law, from 1863. Conspiracy theory is from 1909.
- conjuration
- late 14c., coniuracioun, "conspiracy" (now obs.), also "a calling upon something supernatural," from O.Fr. conjuration, from L. conjurationem "a swearing together, conspiracy," noun of action from conjurare (see conjure).
- gunpowder
- 1411, from gun + powder. The Gunpowder Plot was the conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament on Nov. 5, 1605, while the King, Lords and Commons were assembled there.
- guy (2)
- "fellow," 1847, originally Amer.Eng.; earlier (1836) "grotesquely or poorly dressed person," originally (1806) "effigy of Guy Fawkes," leader of the Gunpowder Plot to blow up British king and Parliament (Nov. 5, 1605), paraded through the streets by children on the anniversary of the conspiracy. The male proper name is from Fr., related to It. Guido, lit. "leader," of Gmc. origin (see guide).