confer

[ kuhn-fur ]
See synonyms for: conferconferredconferringconfers on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),con·ferred, con·fer·ring.
  1. to consult together; compare opinions; carry on a discussion or deliberation.

verb (used with object),con·ferred, con·fer·ring.
  1. to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, etc.: to confer a degree on a graduate.

  2. Obsolete. to compare.

Origin of confer

1
First recorded in 1400–50 for earlier sense “to summon”; 1520–30 for current senses; late Middle English conferen, from Latin conferre “to bring together, compare, consult with,” equivalent to con- “with, together, completely” (see con-) + ferre “to carry, bear” (see bear1)

synonym study For confer

1. See consult. 2. See give.

Other words from confer

  • con·fer·ment, noun
  • con·fer·ra·ble, adjective
  • con·fer·rer, noun
  • non·con·fer·ra·ble, adjective
  • pre·con·fer, verb (used without object), pre·con·ferred, pre·con·fer·ring.
  • re·con·fer, verb, re·con·ferred, re·con·fer·ring.

Words Nearby confer

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How to use confer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for confer

confer

/ (kənˈfɜː) /


verb-fers, -ferring or -ferred
  1. (tr; foll by on or upon) to grant or bestow (an honour, gift, etc)

  2. (intr) to hold or take part in a conference or consult together

  1. (tr) an obsolete word for compare

Origin of confer

1
C16: from Latin conferre to gather together, compare, from com- together + ferre to bring

Derived forms of confer

  • conferment or conferral, noun
  • conferrable, adjective
  • conferrer, noun

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