confederacy
pronunciation
How to pronounce confederacy in British English:
UK [kənˈfedərəsi]
How to pronounce confederacy in American English:
US [kənˈfɛdərəsi]
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- Noun:
- a union of political organizations
- a group of conspirators banded together to achieve some harmful or illegal purpose
- a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act
Word Origin
- confederacy (n.)
- late 14c., from Anglo-French confederacie (Old French confederacie), from stem of Latin confoederatio, from confoederare (see confederate). Earliest in reference to leagues of classical Greek states (Aetolian, Achaean, etc.), later of the Netherlands. The word was used of the United States of America under (and in) the Articles of Confederation (1777-1788). In reference to the breakaway Confederate States of America (1861-1865) from 1861. Confederacy now usually implies a looser or more temporary association than confederation, which is applied to a union of states organized on an intentionally permanent basis. [OED]
Example
- 1. No. I don 't think the confederacy considers me that much of a threat yet .
- 2. The confederacy considered him a threat ......
- 3. I raised a glass in tribute as we moved into the mohawk valley , part of the iroquois indian confederacy .
- 4. However , when virginia seceded in april 1861 , he supported the confederacy , showing his loyalty to his state over the federal government .
- 5. Her position was a difficult one given her southern birth and the fact that some of her relatives ( including her half brothers ) were fighting for the confederacy .