Coney Co"ney noun 1. (Zoology) A rabbit. See Cony . 2. (Zoology) A fish. See Cony .

Confab Con"fab noun [ Contr. from confabulation .] Familiar talk or conversation. [ Colloq.]

Confabulate Con·fab"u·late intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Confabulated ; present participle & verbal noun Confabulating .] [ Latin confabulatus , past participle of confabulary , to converse together; con- + fabulary to speak, from fabula . See Fable .] To talk familiarly together; to chat; to prattle.

I shall not ask Jean Jaques Rousseau
If birds confabulate or no.
Cowper.

Confabulation Con·fab`u·la"tion noun [ Latin confabulatio .] Familiar talk; easy, unrestrained, unceremonious conversation.

Friends' confabulations are comfortable at all times, as fire in winter.
Burton.

Confabulatory Con·fab"u·la·to·ry adjective Of the nature of familiar talk; in the form of a dialogue. Weever.

Confalon Con"fa·lon noun [ French See Confalon .] (R. C. Ch.) One of a fraternity of seculars, also called Penitents .

Confarreation Con·far`re·a"tion noun [ Latin confarreatio , from confarreare to marry; con- + farreum (sc. libum cake) a spelt cake, from farreus made of spelt, from far a sort of grain.] (Antiq.) A form of marriage among the Romans, in which an offering of bread was made, in presence of the high priest and at least ten witnesses.

Confated Con·fat"ed p. adjective Fated or decreed with something else. [ R.] A. Tucker.

Confect Con·fect" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Confected ; present participle & verbal noun Confecting .] [ Latin confectus , past participle of conficere to prepare. See Comfit .] 1. To prepare, as sweetmeats; to make a confection of. [ Obsolete]

Saffron confected in Cilicia.
W. Browne.

2. To construct; to form; to mingle or mix. [ Obsolete]

Of this were confected the famous everlasting lamps and tapers.
Sir T. Herbert.

[ My joys] are still confected with some fears.
Stirling.

Confect Con"fect noun A comfit; a confection. [ Obsolete]

At supper eat a pippin roasted and sweetened with sugar of roses and caraway confects .
Harvey.

Confection Con·fec"tion noun [ French, from Latin confectio .] 1. A composition of different materials. [ Obsolete]

A new confection of mold.
Bacon.

2. A preparation of fruits or roots, etc., with sugar; a sweetmeat.

Certain confections . . . are like to candied conserves, and are made of sugar and lemons.
Bacon.

3. A composition of drugs. Shak. 4. (Medicine) A soft solid made by incorporating a medicinal substance or substances with sugar, sirup, or honey. » The pharmacopœias formerly made a distinction between conserves (made of fresh vegetable substances and sugar) and electuaries (medicinal substances combined with sirup or honey), but the distinction is now abandoned and all are called confections .

Confectionary Con·fec"tion·a·ry noun [ Confer Late Latin confectionaris a pharmacist.] A confectioner. [ Obsolete]

He will take your daughters to be confectionaries , and to be cooks.
1 Sam. viii. 13.

Confectionary Con·fec"tion·a·ry adjective Prepared as a confection.

The biscuit or confectionary plum.
Cowper.

Confectioner Con·fec"tion·er noun 1. A compounder. [ Obsolete]

Canidia Neapolitana was confectioner of unguents.
Haywood.

2. One whose occupation it is to make or sell confections, candies, etc.

Confectioners' sugar Con·fec"tion·ers' sug`ar A highly refined sugar in impalpable powder, esp. suited to confectioners' uses.

Confectionery Con·fec"tion·er·y noun 1. Sweetmeats, in general; things prepared and sold by a confectioner; confections; candies. 2. A place where candies, sweetmeats, and similar things are made or sold.

Confectory Con·fec"to·ry adjective Pertaining to the art of making sweetmeats. [ Obsolete] Beaumont.

Confecture Con·fec"ture noun Same as Confiture . [ Obsolete]

Confeder Con·fed"er (kŏn*fĕd"ẽr) intransitive verb [ Confer French confédérer . See Confederate .] To confederate. [ Obsolete] Sir T. North.

Confederacy Con·fed"er·a·cy noun ; plural Confederacies . [ From Confederate , adjective ] 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.

Confederacy Con·fed"er·a·cy noun (Amer. Hist.) With the , the Confederate States of America.

Confederate Con·fed"er·ate adjective [ Latin confoederatus , past participle of confoederare to join by a league; con- + foederare to establish by treaty or league, from foedus league, compact. See Federal .] 1. United in a league; allied by treaty; engaged in a confederacy; banded together; allied.

All the swords
In Italy, and her confederate arms,
Could not have made this peace.
Shak.

2. (Amer. Hist.) Of or pertaining to the government of the eleven Southern States of the United States which (1860-1865) attempted to establish an independent nation styled the Confederate States of America; as, the Confederate congress; Confederate money.

Confederate Con·fed"er·ate noun 1. One who is united with others in a league; a person or a nation engaged in a confederacy; an ally; also, an accomplice in a bad sense.

He found some of his confederates in gaol.
Macaulay.

2. (Amer. Hist.) A name designating an adherent to the cause of the States which attempted to withdraw from the Union (1860-1865).

Confederate Con·fed"er·ate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Confederated ; present participle & verbal noun Confederating .] To unite in a league or confederacy; to ally.

With these the Piercies them confederate .
Daniel.

Confederate Con·fed"er·ate intransitive verb To unite in a league; to join in a mutual contract or covenant; to band together.

By words men . . . covenant and confederate .
South.

Confederater Con·fed"er·a`ter noun A confederate.

Confederation Con·fed`er·a"tion noun [ Latin confoederatio : confer French confédération .] 1. The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support; alliance, particularly of princes, nations, or states.

The three princes enter into some strict league and confederation among themselves.
Bacon.

This was no less than a political confederation of the colonies of New England.
Palfrey.

2. The parties that are confederated, considered as a unit; a confederacy. Articles of confederation . See under Article .

Confederative Con·fed"er·a·tive adjective Of or pertaining to a confederation.

Confederator Con·fed"er·a`tor noun A confederate. Grafton.

Confer Con·fer" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Conferred ; present participle & verbal noun Conferring .] [ Latin conferre to bring together, contribute, consult; con- + ferre to bear: confer French conférer . See 1st Bear .] 1. To bring together for comparison; to compare. [ Obsolete]

If we confer these observations with others of the like nature, we may find cause to rectify the general opinion.
Boyle.

2. To grant as a possession; to bestow.

The public marks of honor and reward
Conferred upon me.
Milton.

3. To contribute; to conduce. [ Obsolete]

The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much confer to the strength of the union.
Glanvill.

Confer Con·fer" intransitive verb To have discourse; to consult; to compare views; to deliberate.

Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered.
Acts xxv. 12.

You shall hear us confer of this.
Shak.

Syn. -- To counsel; advise; discourse; converse.

Conferee Con`fer·ee" noun [ Confer Referee .] 1. One who is conferred with, or who takes part in a conference; as, the conferees on the part of the Senate. 2. One upon whom something is conferred.

Conference Con"fer·ence noun [ French conférence . See Confer .] 1. The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison. [ Obsolete]

Helps and furtherances which . . . the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford.
Hocker.

2. The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.

Nor with such free and friendly conference
As he hath used of old.
Shak.

3. A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange of opinions. 4. A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their committees, to adjust between them. 5. (Methodist Church) A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters. 6. A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are. Conference meeting , a meeting for conference. Specifically, a meeting conducted (usually) by laymen, for conference and prayer. [ U. S.] -- Conference room , a room for conference and prayer, and for the pastor's less formal addresses. [ U. S.]

Conferential Con`fer·en"tial adjective Relating to conference. [ R.] Clarke.

Conferrable Con·fer"ra·ble adjective Capable of being conferred.

Conferree Con`fer·ree" (kŏn`fẽr*rē") noun Same as Conferee .

Conferrer Con·fer"rer (kŏn*fẽr"rẽr) noun 1. One who confers; one who converses. Johnson. 2. One who bestows; a giver.

Conferruminate, Conferruminated Con`fer·ru"mi·nate, Con`fer·ru"mi·na`ted adjective [ Latin conferruminare to cement. See Ferruminate .] (Botany) Closely united by the coalescence, or sticking together, of contiguous faces, as in the case of the cotyledons of the live-oak acorn.

Conferva Con·fer"va noun ; plural Confervæ . [ Latin , a kind of water plant. See Comfrey .] (Botany) Any unbranched, slender, green plant of the fresh-water algae. The word is frequently used in a wider sense.

Confervaceous Con`fer·va"ceous adjective Belonging to the confervae.

Confervoid Con·fer"void adjective [ Conferva + -oid .] Like, or related to, the confervae. Loudon.

Confervous Con·fer"vous adjective Pertaining to confervae; consisting of, or resembling, the confervae.

Yon exiguous pool's confervous scum.
O. W. Holmes.

Confess Con·fess" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Confessed ; present participle & verbal noun Confessing .] [ French confesser , from Latin confessus , past participle of confiteri to confess; con- + fateri to confess; akin to fari to speak. See 2d Ban , Fame .] 1. To make acknowledgment or avowal in a matter pertaining to one's self; to acknowledge, own, or admit, as a crime, a fault, a debt.

And there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg.
Milton.

I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned.
Addison.

2. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.

Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess , also, before my Father which is in heaven.
Matt. x. 32.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
Acts xxiii. 8.

3. To admit as true; to assent to; to acknowledge, as after a previous doubt, denial, or concealment.

I never gave it him. Send for him hither,
And let him confess a truth.
Shak.

As I confess it needs must be.
Tennyson.

As an actor confessed without rival to shine.
Goldsmith.

4. (Eccl.) (a) To make known or acknowledge, as one's sins to a priest, in order to receive absolution; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun.

Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father.
Addison.

(b) To hear or receive such confession; - - said of a priest.

He . . . heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed .
Ld. Berners.

5. To disclose or reveal, as an effect discloses its cause; to prove; to attest.

Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold.
Pope.

Syn. -- Admit; grant; concede; avow; own; assent; recognize; prove; exhibit; attest. -- To Confess , Acknowledge , Avow . Acknowledge is opposed to conceal . We acknowledge what we feel must or ought to be made known. (See Acknowledge .) Avow is opposed to withhold . We avow when we make an open and public declaration, as against obloquy or opposition; as, to avow one's principles; to avow one's participation in some act. Confess is opposed to deny . We confess (in the ordinary sense of the word) what we feel to have been wrong; as, to confess one's errors or faults. We sometimes use confess and acknowledge when there is no admission of our being in the wrong; as, this, I confess , is my opinion; I acknowledge I have always thought so; but in these cases we mean simply to imply that others may perhaps think us in the wrong, and hence we use the words by way of deference to their opinions. It was in this way that the early Christians were led to use the Latin confiteor and confessio fidei to denote the public declaration of their faith in Christianity; and hence the corresponding use in English of the verb confess and the noun confession .

Confess Con·fess" intransitive verb 1. To make confession; to disclose sins or faults, or the state of the conscience.

Every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom. xiv. 11.

2. To acknowledge; to admit; to concede.

But since
(And I confess with right) you think me bound.
Tennyson.

Confessant Con·fess"ant noun [ French confessant .] One who confesses to a priest. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Confessary Con·fess"a·ry noun [ Late Latin confessarius .] One who makes a confession. [ Obsolete] Bp. Hall.

Confessedly Con·fess"ed·ly adverb By confession; without denial. [ Written also confessly .]

Confesser Con·fess"er noun One who makes a confession.

Confession Con·fes"sion noun [ French confession , Latin confessio .] 1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime.

With a crafty madness keeps aloof,
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state.
Shak.

2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.

With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom. x. 10.

3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to obtain sacramental absolution.

Auricular confession . . . or the private and special confession of sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution.
Hallam.

4. A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to membership of a church; a confession of faith. 5. (Law) An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed, in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted. Wharton. Confession and avoidance (Law) , a mode of pleading in which the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them. Mozley & W. Confession of faith , a formulary containing the articles of faith; a creed. -- General confession , the confession of sins made by a number of persons in common, as in public prayer. -- Westminster Confession . See Westminster Assembly , under Assembly .

Confessional Con·fes"sion·al noun [ French confessional .] The recess, seat, or inclosed place, where a priest sits to hear confessions; often a small structure furnished with a seat for the priest and with a window or aperture so that the penitent who is outside may whisper into the priest's ear without being seen by him or heard by others.