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confederate (v.)

1530s, "to unite in a league or alliance," from Late Latin confoederatus, past participle of confoederare "to unite by a league," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + foederare, from foedus (genitive foederis) "a league," from suffixed form of PIE root *bheidh- "to trust, confide, persuade."

The older verb was confeder (late 14c.), from Old French confederer, Medieval Latin confederare. Related: Confederated; confederating.

Origin and meaning of confederate

confederate (adj.)

late 14c., "allied, united in a league," from Late Latin confoederatus "leagued together," past participle of confoederare "to unite by a league" (see confederate (v.)). Meaning "of or belonging to the Confederate States of America" is from 1861. Confederal "of or pertaining to a confederation" (1782) was used of the United States under the Articles of Confederation.

Origin and meaning of confederate

confederate (n.)

late 15c., "one who is united with another or others in a compact or league;" see confederate (adj.).  Late Latin confoederatus also was used as a noun in its day. Meaning "a citizen of the Confederate States of America" is from 1861. Confederator (mid-15c.) was used in the sense of "an ally, an accomplice."  

Origin and meaning of confederate

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Definitions of confederate from WordNet
1
confederate (v.)
form a group or unite;
Synonyms: band together
confederate (v.)
form a confederation with; of nations;
2
confederate (n.)
someone who assists in a plot;
Synonyms: collaborator / henchman / partner in crime
confederate (n.)
a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan (especially an unethical or illegal plan);
Synonyms: accomplice
3
confederate (adj.)
united in a confederacy or league;
Synonyms: allied / confederative
4
Confederate (n.)
a supporter of the Confederate States of America;
5
Confederate (adj.)
of or having to do with the southern Confederacy during the American Civil War;
From wordnet.princeton.edu