Dictionary entry

Confederacy

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Con‐fed″er‐a‐cy (?), n.; pl.Confederacies (#). [From Confederate, a.] 1. A league or compact between two or more persons, bodies of men, or states, for mutual support or common action; alliance.

The friendships of the world are oft

Confederacies in vice or leagues of pleasure.

Addison.

He hath heard of our confederacy.

Shak.

Virginia promoted a confederacy.

Bancroft.

2. The persons, bodies, states, or nations united by a league; a confederation.

The Grecian common wealth,... the most heroic confederacy that ever existed.

Harris.

Virgil has a whole confederacy against him.

Dryden.

3. (Law) A combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. See Conspiracy.

Syn. — League; compact; alliance; association; union; combination; confederation.