confederate
adjective /kənˈfɛd(ə)rət 
/ [attributive]
/ [attributive]1Joined by an agreement or treaty: some local groups united to form confederate councils...
- Unable to reach an agreement between a federal or confederate link between the two parts, the country peacefully split into the independent Czech and Slovak Republics on 1 January 1993.
- With the agreement of President Tudjman, a Croat-Muslim alliance was formed, laying down a federal Bosnia with the Croat entity having confederate status with Croatia itself.
- Therefore, he said that federal or confederate systems can better safeguard the independence and interests of some minor provinces.
Synonyms
federal, confederated, federated, allied, in alliance, in league, cooperating, associated, united, combined, amalgamated
1.1 (Confederate) Relating to the Confederate States of America: the Confederate flag...
- Sherman's prime targets in his famous marches were Confederate war-making resources and morale.
- One of the most effective naval blockades in history was imposed on Confederate ports by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.
- Also, if captured by Confederate troops, a Black soldier would be immediately executed or sold into slavery.
noun /kənˈfɛd(ə)rət /
/1A person one works with, especially in something secret or illegal; an accomplice: where was his confederate, the girl who had stolen Richard’s wallet?...
- He had also furnished me capital and was become my confederate, an accomplice in my frauds.
- It follows that awareness that one of D's confederates might commit murder is sufficient to convict D as an accomplice, with a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
- Seven children (four boys and three girls) served as confederates.
Synonyms
associate, partner, accomplice, abetter, accessory, helper, supporter, assistant, ally, collaborator, colleague
British informal oppo
Australian/New Zealand informal offsider
2 (Confederate) A supporter of the Confederate States of America.He is, for example, an ardent apologist for Robert E. Lee, regarding him and other Confederates as American heroes....
- Still, Confederates struck hard at McPherson's Federals in a fierce day-long battle.
- For their part, the Confederates considered Lincoln's peace terms tantamount to unconditional surrender.
verb /kənˈfɛdəreɪt / [with object] (usually as adjective confederated)
/ [with object] (usually as adjective confederated)Bring (states or groups of people) into an alliance: Switzerland is a model for the new confederated Europe...
- He had only ‘asked Sri Lanka to consider a quasi-federal or confederated setup under a constitutional system that accorded full rights to the Tamils’.
- Additionally, since 1808 they had been fighting a guerrilla war with Indian tribes loosely confederated by the great Shawnee chief Tecumseh.
- The loosely confederated empire began to feel beleaguered from East and West, becoming aware of the growing pressure of Teutonism.
Origin
Late Middle English: from late (ecclesiastical) Latin confoederatus, from con- 'together' + foederatus (see federate).