v. Obs. Forms: 4–7 confeder, 5–6 -fedre, 4–6 -fether, -feter, 6 -fetter, -feather, Sc. -fidder, -fidir. [a. F. confédér-er (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. confœderāre to league together.] The earlier equivalent of CONFEDERATE v.

1

  1.  trans. To unite in alliance; to ally, league, confederate. Const. to, unto, with, together.

2

c. 1368.  Chaucer, Compl. Pite, 42. Confetered both by bonde and assurance.

3

1485.  Caxton, St. Wenefr., 18. To appease these inimytees and to confedere the myndes and courages of these men unto them.

4

1529.  Rastell, Pastyme, Hist. Brit. (1811), 280. The Erle of Warwyke … confeteryd unto hym the duke of Clarence.

5

1533.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. xxi. 152. Whether they will confedre themselves with any other outward princes.

6

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. xxviii. 126. The holy gost … shall glue and confeder them together with mutuall charitie.

7

  b.  pass. To be or be made confederate.

8

1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 421. To be confedrid with hom.

9

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 45. [Ptolemy and Antiochus] were confethered to gidres.

10

1555.  Eden, Decades, I. v. 27. Such other as were confethered with hym.

11

1600.  Holland, Livy, III. xxxvi. 112. They … were confedered betweene themselves privily … to call no assembly.

12

  2.  intr. (for refl.) To enter into an alliance or league; to ally oneself.

13

c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xii. 139. For drede that … thai wolde confedre with the commons.

14

1529.  Rastell, Pastyme, Hist. Brit. (1811), 128. Whych both confetheryd against the Kyng.

15

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 32. [Thai will] confidder with ws.

16

1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron., III. 1229/2. To confeder with the rebels.

17

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scotl. (1885), 88. Feiring lykwyse that thay … had confiderid wt the Britanis.

18

  3.  trans. To make a league of (peace or amity).

19

c. 1534.  trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camd. Soc.), I. 271. They, confederinge peace and amitie for ever, devided the kingdom betweene them.

20

  Hence Confedered ppl. a., Confedering vbl. sb.

21

c. 1525.  Skelton, Replyc., 54. Lyke heretykes confettred, Ye count yourselfe well lettred.

22

1530.  Palsgr., 208/1. Confederyng, confederation.

23

1609.  Heywood, Brit. Troy, XI. xix. Confedered Kings.

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