📖 C — The English dictionary · page 60

confederacy — Everyday, meaning 1: A confederacy is a group of states, tribes or people who join together for a shared purpose, like defence, while keeping much of their own power.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (history, USA) The Confederacy was the group of eleven southern US states that broke away in 1861 to keep slavery and fought the North in the American Civil War.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) A secret group that plans something together, especially something wrong.↗ Example: The Iroquois Confederacy joined six Native American nations.↗ · The Confederacy fought the Union in the Civil War.↗ · Abraham Lincoln led the North against the Confederacy.↗ · The Confederacy wanted to keep slavery.↗ · Several tribes formed a confederacy to protect their lands.↗ · Today many people see the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism.↗ · The pirates had a confederacy to share the treasure.↗

confederate — Everyday, meaning 1: A confederate is a helper who works secretly with someone else, usually in a trick or a plot.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) A confederate is a partner or ally in a shared cause.↗ Example: The magician's confederate hid behind the curtain.↗ · Two confederates whispered the answer to him.↗ · The robber waited at the gate for his confederate.↗ · A confederate of the conjuror pretended to be a member of the crowd.↗ · And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew — now he dwelt by the terebinths of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate with Abram.↗ (Torah GEN.14.13, JPS 1917)↗ · And it was told the house of David, saying: 'Aram is confederate with Ephraim.'↗ And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.↗ (Prophets ISA.7.2, JPS 1917)↗

confederation — Everyday, meaning 1: A group of states, countries, organisations or people who join together for a shared purpose, while keeping much of their own power.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (Canada) Confederation: the joining of Canadian provinces into one country in 1867.↗ Example: Canada was formed by Confederation in 1867.↗ · Switzerland's official name is the Swiss Confederation.↗ · The tribes formed a confederation to defend their land.↗ · UEFA is the football confederation for Europe.↗ · The Iroquois Confederation was a union of several nations.↗

confer — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) To talk together and share ideas before deciding something: the judges conferred.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) To give someone an honour, title, right or prize: the university conferred a degree on her.↗ Example: The referees conferred before giving the penalty.↗ · The team conferred and chose their answer.↗ · (formal) The headteacher conferred with the parents.↗ · The Queen conferred a knighthood on the scientist.↗ · In the quiz, no conferring is allowed in round one!↗ · (formal) The award confers the right to free entry.↗ · He reigned for a long time, conferring several benefits upon his brother.↗ · And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they following Adonijah helped him.↗ (Prophets 1KI.1.7, JPS 1917)↗ · And in his place shall stand up a contemptible person, upon whom had not been conferred the majesty of the kingdom; but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by blandishments.↗ (Writings DAN.11.21, JPS 1917)↗

conference — Everyday, meaning 1: A conference is a big formal meeting where many people come together to discuss or learn about a subject, often for one or more days.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A conference is a smaller meeting to talk about something important: a parent–teacher conference.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In US sport, a conference is a group of teams that play against each other.↗ Example: My parents went to the parent–teacher conference.↗ · Scientists from many countries met at the conference.↗ · The prime minister held a press conference.↗ · We had a video conference with a class in Canada.↗ · The conference lasted three days.↗ · The teacher is in a conference with the head.↗ · My aunt gave a talk at a science conference.↗ · Our team plays in the Western Conference.↗ · When the battle was over, the conduct of the Bats was discussed at the peace conference.↗

conferral — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) The act of giving someone an honour, a title, a degree or a right in an official way.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal, rare) The act of talking things over with others; this sense is usually said as «conferring» or «conference».↗ Example: The conferral of degrees takes place in the great hall.↗ · Her conferral of the gold medal was the proudest moment of the evening.↗ · The conferral of citizenship came after a long wait and a short ceremony.↗ · After the conferral of the title, the knight stood up and bowed.↗ · The school board approved the conferral of a special award on the lollipop lady.↗ · Grandad keeps a photo of the conferral of his apprenticeship certificate.↗ · The conferral of honorary membership surprised the old coach.↗

confess — Everyday, meaning 1: To confess is to admit that you did something wrong or something you are ashamed of.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (church) To confess is to tell your sins to God or to a priest in order to be forgiven.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (law) To confess is to tell the police or a court that you did a crime.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: "I must confess" can just mean "I admit", for a small thing.↗ e.g. "I must confess I love cold pizza."↗ Example: Lily confessed that she had taken the last chocolate.↗ · The thief confessed to the robbery.↗ · On Saturday, Nan went to confess her sins to the priest.↗ · I must confess, I forgot to feed the fish.↗ · He confessed to his teacher before anyone found out.↗ · Christians confess their sins and ask God for forgiveness.↗ · She finally confessed that she was scared of the dark.↗ · He confessed what he felt for her.↗ · and it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that wherein he hath sinned; (Torah LEV.5.5, JPS 1917)↗ · And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their treachery which they committed against Me, and also that they have walked contrary unto Me.↗ (Torah LEV.26.40, JPS 1917)↗ · Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.↗ (Writings JOB.40.14, JPS 1917)↗ · And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.↗ (Writings NEH.9.2, JPS 1917)↗ · And if Thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, when they sin against Thee, and shall turn again and confess Thy name, and pray and make supplication before Thee in this house; (Writings 2CH.6.24, JPS 1917)↗

confession — Everyday, meaning 1: A confession is when you admit that you did something wrong.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (church) In some churches, confession is when a person tells their sins to God, often with a priest listening, and asks to be forgiven.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (law) A confession is a statement in which a person says to the police or a court that they did a crime.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A confession can also be telling a secret or a feeling you were shy about, like "I have a confession.↗ e.g. I don't like cake."↗ Example: Tom made a confession to his mum about the broken vase.↗ · After a long silence, her confession came out in a rush: she had eaten the last biscuit.↗ · On Saturday Gran goes to confession at the parish church.↗ · The priest listened to the confession and said a prayer of forgiveness.↗ · The police said the man had signed a confession.↗ · I have a confession to make: I never read the book.↗ · His confession made him feel lighter, as if a stone had been lifted.↗ · In the story, the thief's confession surprised the whole village.↗ · He went to the mill--he went to confession.↗ · Now therefore make confession unto the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.'↗ (Writings EZR.10.11, JPS 1917)↗ · And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made confession, and said: 'O Lord, the great and awful God, who keepest covenant and mercy with them that love Thee and keep Thy commandments, (Writings DAN.9.4, JPS 1917)↗ · I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid; I said: 'I will make confession concerning my transgressions unto the LORD' — and Thou, Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.↗ (Writings PSA.32.5, JPS 1917)↗

confetti — Everyday, meaning 1: Tiny pieces of coloured paper thrown into the air at weddings, parties and parades.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Anything that falls or lies about in many tiny bright bits, like confetti: «a confetti of petals».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Small sugar sweets or sprinkles used to decorate cakes (sometimes called «confetti sprinkles»).↗ Example: The guests threw confetti over the bride and groom.↗ · There was confetti in my hair for days after the party.↗ · The winning team was showered with confetti on the stage.↗ · We made confetti with a hole punch and old magazines.↗ · The church asks people to use only paper confetti.↗ · Mum sighed when she saw the confetti all over the carpet.↗ · Autumn leaves fell like confetti in the wind.↗ · The cupcakes were topped with rainbow confetti sprinkles.↗

confidant — Everyday, meaning 1: A person you trust and tell your secrets and private feelings to.↗ Example: Grandma was my closest confidant when I was little.↗ · The king's confidant knew all his plans.↗ · She became her sister's confidant after the move.↗ · Everyone needs a confidant to share worries with.↗ · In the story, the dog is the boy's only confidant.↗ · A good confidant listens and keeps secrets safe — unless someone is in danger.↗

confide — Everyday, meaning 1: To confide in someone is to tell them a secret or a private worry because you trust them.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To confide something is to say it privately, as a secret.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) To confide something to someone is to give it into their care.↗ Example: She confided in her best friend about the bullying.↗ · You can always confide in your teacher if something is wrong.↗ · He confided that he was scared of the dark.↗ · Grandma confided a family secret to me.↗ · I don't confide in people who spread gossip.↗ · The king confided the treasure to his loyal knight.↗ (formal)↗

confidence — Everyday, meaning 1: Confidence is the feeling that you can do something well, or the belief in yourself: «She answered with confidence.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Confidence in someone or something is trust that they are good or will work well.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A confidence is a secret that you tell someone you trust: «in confidence».↗ Example: She spoke with confidence in front of the class.↗ · Practice builds your confidence.↗ · I have confidence in my team.↗ · He lost confidence after he fell off his bike.↗ · Swimming lessons gave me more confidence in the water.↗ · She told me in confidence, so I won't tell.↗ · The teacher has confidence that we can do it.↗ · Confidence is believing you can learn, even if it's hard.↗ · No one ever fails who has confidence in himself.↗ · Whose confidence is gossamer, and whose trust is a spider's web.↗ (Writings JOB.8.14, JPS 1917)↗ · For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being caught.↗ (Writings PRO.3.26, JPS 1917)↗ · Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?↗ (Writings JOB.4.6, JPS 1917)↗

confident — Everyday, meaning 1: Confident means feeling sure that you can do something well: a confident swimmer.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Confident means sure that something will happen or is true.↗ e.g. I'm confident we'll win.↗ Example: I feel confident about my spelling test.↗ · She is a confident swimmer now.↗ · The teacher was confident that we would finish on time.↗ · Practice makes you more confident.↗ · He walked confidently onto the stage.↗ · The hare was so confident he would win that he took a nap.↗ · They talked of Cinderella, and Tootles was confident that his mother must have been very like her.↗ · A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; but the fool behaveth overbearingly, and is confident.↗ (Writings PRO.14.16, JPS 1917)↗ · Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; he is confident, though the Jordan rush forth to his mouth.↗ (Writings JOB.40.23, JPS 1917)↗ · Rise up, ye women that are at ease, and hear my voice; ye confident daughters, give ear unto my speech.↗ (Prophets ISA.32.9, JPS 1917)↗

confidential — Everyday, meaning 1: Confidential information is secret and should only be seen or shared by certain people.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Confidential describes a quiet, private way of speaking that shows you trust someone: «in a confidential voice».↗ Example: Your medical records are confidential.↗ · This letter is strictly confidential.↗ · Keep your password confidential.↗ · She told me in a confidential whisper.↗ · The school keeps pupils' details confidential.↗ · Please treat this information as confidential.↗

confidentiality — Everyday, meaning 1: Keeping private information secret and only sharing it with people who are allowed to know it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (law) A duty or agreement to keep information private, as doctors, lawyers and counsellors must.↗ Example: Doctors must respect patient confidentiality.↗ · The counsellor explained the rules about confidentiality.↗ · Mum signed a confidentiality agreement at her new job.↗ · Confidentiality means your records are not shown to strangers.↗ · If you are in danger, a teacher must share the information to keep you safe.↗ · The bank takes confidentiality seriously.↗

confidently — Everyday, meaning 1: Confidently means in a way that shows you believe in yourself and are not afraid.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Confidently means while feeling sure that something is true or will happen.↗ Example: She walked confidently onto the stage.↗ · Tom answered the question confidently.↗ · Now I can confidently swim a whole length.↗ · The weatherman confidently said it would be sunny.↗ · Speak confidently and look at the audience.↗ · He confidently predicted that his team would win.↗ · "Yes, yes," answered the Stag confidently, "the Wolf has promised to be my surety."↗