Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Con-fĕd'er-a-cy, n. p. 270A league or covenant; a compact for mutual support or common action; union between two or more persons, bodies of men, or states; mutual engagement; federal compact. The friendships of the world are…Con-fĕd’er-ate, a. p. 271United in a league; allied by treaty; engaged in a confederacy. All the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace. Shak.Con-fĕd'er-ate, n. p. 271One who is united with others in a league; a person or nation engaged in a confederacy; an ally. We still have fresh recruits in store, If our confederates can afford us more. Dryden.Con-fĕd’er-āte, v. t. p. 271To unite in a league; to ally. With these the Piercies them confederate. Daniel.Con-fĕd'er-āte, v. i. p. 271To unite in a league; to join in a mutual contract or covenant. By words men come to know one another's minds; by these they covenant and confederate. South.Con-fĕd'er-ā'ter, n. p. 271A confederate.Con-fĕd′er-ā′tion, n. p. 271The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support; alliance, particularly of princes, nations, or states. The three princes enter into a strict league and confederation. Bacon. This…Con-fĕd'er-ā'tive, a. p. 271Of, or pertaining to, a confederation.Con-fēr', v. t. p. 271To bring together for comparison; to compare. [Obs.] If we confer these observations with others of the like nature, we may find cause to rectify the general opinion. Boyle. 2. To grant a permanent…Con-fér', v. i. p. 271To discourse or converse in a serious manner; to compare views; to consult. Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered. Acts xxv. 12. Syn.—To counsel; advise; discourse; converse.Cŏn'fer-ence, n. p. 271The examination of things in the way of comparison. [Obs.] Helps and furtherances which scriptures, councils, laws, and the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford.…Cŏn'fer-ence, v. i. p. 271To consult together; to confer. [Rare.]Cōn'fer-èn’tial, a. p. 271Of, or relating to, conference. [Rare.] Clarke.Con-fér'ra-ble, a. p. 271Capable of being conferred.Cŏn'fer-rēe', n. p. 271One who is conferred with.Con-fêr'rer, n. p. 271One who confers; one who converses. 2. One who bestows; a giver.Cŏn'fer-rū'mi-nate or Cŏn'fer-rū'mi-nā'ted, a. p. 271(Bot.) Closely united together, so as to be undistinguishable. Loudon.Con-fér'va, n. p. 271(Bot.) An extensive section of the Algæ, embracing those plants which consist of slender jointed green filaments. It includes the green, scum-like vegetation often called frog-spittle. Dana.Cōn'fer-vā'ceous, a. p. 271Belonging to the confervæ.Con-fër'void, a. p. 271Like, or related to, the confervæ. London.Con-fĕss’, v. t. p. 271To make acknowledgment or avowal in a matter pertaining to one’s self; to acknowledge or admit, as a crime, a fault, a debt. And there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg. Milton. 2. To own or…Con-fĕss', v. i. p. 271To make confession; to disclose faults, or the state of the conscience; as, this man went to the priest to confess.Con-fĕss'ant, n. p. 271One who confesses to a priest. [Obs.] Bacon.Con·fess'a·ry, n. p. 271One who makes a confession. [Obs.] Hall.Con-fĕss'ed-ly, adv. p. 271By confession or acknowledgment; avowedly; undeniably. [Written also con-fest'ly.]Con-fess'er, n. p. 271One who confesses.Con-fĕs'sion, n. p. 271Acknowledgment or avowal in a matter pertaining to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime. With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some confession Of his…Con-fĕs'sion-al, n. p. 271The seat where a priest or confessor sits to hear confessions; a confession-chair.Con-fĕs'sion-al-ist, n. p. 271A priest hearing, or sitting to hear, confession. Clarke.Con-fĕs'sion-a-ry, n. p. 271A confession-chair: a confessional.Con-fĕs'sion-a-ry, a. p. 271Pertaining to auricular confession.Con-fés'sion-ist, n. p. 271One who makes a profession of faith. Mountagu.Con-fĕss’or, n. p. 271One who confesses; one who acknowledges his sins or obligations. 2. (Eccl.) (a.) One who makes a profession of his faith in the Christian religion. (b.) (Anc. Church.) One who confessed the doctrine…Con-fest'ly, adv. p. 271See CONFESSEDLY.Con-fi'cient, a. p. 271Efficient; able; effective. [Obs.]Cŏn'fi-dănt' or Cŏn'fi-dănte', n. m. p. 271Cŏn'fi-dănte', n. f. (Synop., § 130). [O. Fr. confidant, confidante, N. Fr. confident, confidente.] One to whom secrets are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend. [Written also…Con-fīde', v. i. p. 271To put faith; to give credit; to rely; to believe;—followed by in; as, the prince confides in his ministers, or in the strength and resources of his people. “Him in whom distress confides.” Smart.Con-fīde′, v. t. p. 271To intrust to; to give in charge to;—followed by to. They would take the property out of the hands of those to whom it was confided by the charter. Hopkinson. Congress may, under the Constitution…Cŏn'fi-dence, n. p. 271The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in, as in the reality of a fact or the integrity and veracity of another; trust; reliance; belief. Society is built upon trust, and trust upon…Cŏn'fi-dent, a. p. 271Having assured trust or confidence; secure; trustful. “I am confident that much may be done toward the improvement of philosophy.” Boyle. Rome, be as just and gracious unto me As I am confident and…Cōn'fi-dent, n. p. 271See CONFIDANT.Cŏn'fi-dĕn'tial, a. p. 271Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk. 2. Communicated in confidence; privately intrusted; secret. “Confidential messages.” Burke.…Côn'fi-dên'tial-ly, adv. p. 271In confidence; in reliance on secrecy.Cŏn'fi-dent-ly, adv. p. 271With confidence; with strong assurance; positively.Cŏn'fi-dent-ness, n. p. 271The quality of being confident.Con-fid'er, n. p. 271One who confides; one who intrusts to another.Con-fid'ing-ness, n. p. 271The quality of exercising trust; trustfulness; confidence.Con-fig'ū-rāte, v. i. p. 271To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure, or as the aspects of heavenly bodies with reference to each other. Where pyramids to pyramids relate. And the whole structure doth…Con-fig·ū-rā'tion, n. p. 272External form or figure as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing. It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] in these openings only which gives birth and origin to the…Con-fig'ūre, v. t. p. 272To arrange or dispose in a certain form, figure, or shape. Bentley.Con-fin'a-ble, a. p. 272Capable of being confined or limited. Not confinable to any limits. Bp. Hall.Cŏn′fīne, n. p. 272Common boundary; border; limit;—used chiefly in the plural, and applied to grand divisions of territory. Events that came to pass within the confines of Judea. Locke. And now in little space The…Côn'fine, a. p. 272Bordering; lying on the border; adjacent; having a common boundary. [Rare.] Johnson.Con-fīne', v. t. p. 272To restrain within limits; to bound; to immure; to keep close. Now let not nature's hand Keep the wild flood confined; let order die. Shak. He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the…Cŏn'fine or Con-fine', v. i. p. 272To have a common boundary; to border; to touch the limit. Betwixt heaven and earth and skies there stands a place Confining on all three. Dryden.Cŏn'fine-less or Con-fine'less, a. p. 272Without limitation or end; boundless. Shak.Con-fine'ment, n. p. 272Restraint within limits; imprisonment; any restraint of liberty by force or other obstacle, or by necessity; seclusion. The mind hates restraint, and is apt to fancy itself under confinement when the…Con-fīn'er, n. p. 272One who, or that which, limits or restrains.Cŏn'fin-er or Con-fīn'er, n. p. 272One who lives on confines, or near the border of a country; a borderer; a near neighbor. Happy confines you of other lands That shift your soil and oft 'scape tyrants' hands. Daniel.Con-fĭn'i-ty, n. p. 272Community of limits; contiguity; nearness; neighborhood. [Rare.] Bailey.