confederate
[adjective, noun kuhn-fed-er-it, -fed-rit; verb kuhn-fed-uh-reyt]
- united in a league, alliance, or conspiracy.
- (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Confederate States of America: the Confederate army.
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- a person, group, nation, etc., united with others in a confederacy; an ally.
- an accomplice, especially in a mischievous or criminal act.
- (initial capital letter) U.S. History. a supporter of the Confederate States of America.
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- to unite in a league, alliance, or conspiracy.
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Origin of confederate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
incorporated, organized, combined, associated, federal, federated, unionized, syndicated, colleague, conspirator, associate, accessory, ally, collaborator, partner, fellow, accomplice, corporateExamples from the Web for confederate
Contemporary Examples
Yet all too often the line between Southern and Confederate can get blurred.
In July, he gave $12.3 million to refurbish the Virginia home of Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General.
Gary Gallagher writes about the Union and Confederate armies.
Close to three and a half million men fought in the war, and nearly 700,000, both Union and Confederate troops, died.
Why Was Robert Webster, a Slave, Wearing What Looks Like a Confederate Uniform?
Historical Examples
I shall take other measures; for I see you are a confederate with them.
Joseph Andrews, Vol. 2Henry Fielding
No, he's Federal, Confederate or guerilla as it may suit his bloody ends.
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
We never charge a Confederate soldier for anything; that's not our way.
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
At any rate I was convinced she was a good Confederate, and my heart rose.
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
They spotted him and a confederate slipped a hypo into his arm.
Poisoned AirSterner St. Paul Meek
confederate
- a nation, state, or individual that is part of a confederacy
- someone who is part of a conspiracy; accomplice
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- united in a confederacy; allied
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- to form into or become part of a confederacy
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Word Origin
C14: from Late Latin confoederātus, from confoederāre to unite by a league, from Latin com- together + foedus treaty
Confederate
- of, supporting, or relating to the Confederate States of America
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- a supporter of the Confederate States of America
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for confederate
v.
late 14c., from Late Latin confoederatus "leagued together," past participle of confoederare "to unite by a league," from com- "with, together" (see com-) + foederare, from foedus (genitive foederis) "a league" (see federal). Also used as a past participle adjective from late 14c., as a simple adjective from 1550s; meaning "of or belonging to the Confederate States of America" is from 1861. Used as a noun from late 15c. (Late Latin confoederatus also was used as a noun in its day).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Confederate
A descriptive term for the institutions and people of the Confederacy.
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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.