Also 6 confetherate, 6–7 confederat. [ad. L. confœderāt-us, pa. pple. of (post-cl.) confœderā-re (trans.) to join or unite in a league, f. con- together + fœderā-re to league together, establish by league or treaty, f. fœder- (nom. fœdus) league, treaty, compact: see FEDERATE. Already in L. used substantively: so F. confédéré.]
A. adj. United in a league, alliance, or confederacy; leagued, allied, confederated.
1. as pa. pple. = CONFEDERATED.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 157. Þe Scottes þat were somtyme confederat and wonede wiþ þe Pictes.
c. 1460. Henryson, Tale of Dog, 33. Quhilk wer confederate straitlie in ane band.
1555. Eden, Decades, 53. He came … with eyght other confetherate with hym.
1611. Bible, Isa. vii. 2. Syria is confederate with Ephraim.
1714. Gay, Trivia, III. 81. These Sirens stand … Confederate in the cheat.
1884. A. R. Pennington, Wyclif, ix. 299. Victories over the foes confederate against them.
fig. 1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. iii. 53. My heart is not confederate with my hand.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, I. (1888), 7. Strong words of counselling souls confederate With vocal pines and waters.
2. as adj.
1555. Eden, Decades, 69. The confetherate kynges beseaged the vyllage.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xii. 56. Juggling and confederate Knavery.
1757–8. Smollett, Hist. Eng. (1812), I. 165. The confederate army amounted to five and fifty thousand men.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, XX. 192. Neptune … and his confederate gods.
1889. Rawlinson, Anc. Egypt (ed. 4), 258. Marmain … led against him a confederate army, consisting of three principal tribes of the Tahennu.
b. transf. and fig.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., 52. The Confederate Probabilities.
1714. Shaftesb., Misc. Refl., IV. ii. Of these thorowly-associating and confederate-animals … none … in bulk or strength exceed the beaver.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 167, ¶ 3. Confederate intellects and auxiliar virtues.
3. In Confederate States (of America), abbreviated C.S.A.: the name assumed by the eleven southern states that seceded from the American Union in 1860–1, and formed a confederacy of their own, which was finally overthrown in 1865, after which they were reunited to the United States.
1861. (9 Feb.) Const. Confed. States Amer. In all such [new] territory the institution of negro slavery as it now exists in the Confederate States, shall be recognized.
1861. Illustr. Lond. News, 9 March, 209/1. Mr. Jefferson Davis, President of the Southern Confederacy, entitled the Confederate States of America, was formally inaugurated at Montgomery … on the 18th ult.
b. Hence, Of or belonging to the Confederate States, their government, army, etc.
1861. Illustr. Lond. News, 11 May, 432/3. The Confederate flag has been hoisted on the fort. Ibid., 25 May, 481/1. Thirty days to be allowed to United States’ vessels in Confederate ports to quit.
1861. Motley, Causes Amer. Civil War, 4. An advance of the ‘Confederate troops’ upon that city [Washington, D.C.];…—a constitution in which slavery should be the universal law of the land, the cornerstone of the political edifice—were events which seemed for a few days of intense anxiety almost probable.
1863. Dicey, Federal St., II. 241. When once the Confederate army was defeated.
1863. J. R. Balme, Amer. States (1864), 185. Jefferson Davis, the Confederate President.
1878. N. Amer. Rev., CXXVII. 103. Some Southern Confederate leader, civil or military.
B. sb.
1. A person or state in league with another or others for mutual support or joint action; an ally.
1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 20. Their cosyn, frende, & confederate, Edmonde Earle of Marche.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, C vi. Such as were hys confetherates.
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect. (1851), 304. I see who is their assistant, who their confederat, who hath engaged his omnipotent arm to … crown with success their faith.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxx. III. 170. The victorious confederates pursued their march.
1791. ‘G. Gambado,’ Ann. Horsem., xi. (1809), 112. A letter from the Duke of Wharton to Sir William More … who was his confederate on the turf.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 37. Venice, not yet humbled by the confederates of Cambray.
† b. Theol. One united in covenant with God, or allied with others in the same covenant. Obs.
1655. Gouge, Comm. Heb. viii. 8. II. 251. As a confederate: as one of those that are in covenant with God. Ibid., II. 261. The continual abode and operation of the Spirit in Gods confederates.
1681–6. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 238. To be a member of that [the Jewish] Church, and a Confederate in this Covenant.
a. 1708. Beveridge, Priv. Th., I. (1730), 62. Believers Children being … Confederates with their Parents, in the Covenant of Grace.
2. Law (and thence gen.), in bad sense: One leagued with another or others for an unlawful or evil purpose; an accomplice.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 64, Pream. The same persones … were adherentis, assistencis, confederatis … socourers and comforteris.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. ii. Dathan and Abiron … with all their holle familie, and confederates.
1680. Establ. Test, 33. The very Criminals themselves, or their Accessories and Confederates.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., ii. Betrayers of their country, confederates with Wood.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., II. 25. Dr. Bocking … a confederate of Masters.
Mod. The thief escaped, but his confederate was apprehended.
3. U.S. Hist. One belonging to or on the side of the Confederate States in the War of Secession, 1861–5: see A. 3.
1861. Russell, Lett., 1 May, in Times, 28 May, 9. Between 700 and 800 guns have fallen into the hands of the Confederates.
1863. J. R. Balme, Amer. States (1864), 179. A battle which would probably have cleared Missouri of the Confederates.
1878. N. Amer. Rev., CXXVII. 230. The Confederates were the first to use the torpedo boat.
