Category:Confederacy

Con*fed"er*a*cy, n.; pl. Confederacies. Etym: [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)

Defn: 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.