D defs.my
Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Confederacy

/kən-fĕd'-ẽr-əs-ē/ · Con·fed·er·a·cy · IPA /kənˈfɛdəɹəsi/
01 n. A league or compact between two or more persons, bodies of men, or states, for mutual support or common action; alliance.
pl. Confederacies ((#))
  1. 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. 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. 3.
    A combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. See Conspiracy.(Law) See: Conspiracy
02 n. With the, the Confederate States of America.
  1. 1.
    With the, the Confederate States of America.(Amer. Hist.)