Adjacent Words

Confer definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CONFER', v.i. [L., to bear, to bring forth, to show, to declare. See Bear.] To discourse; to converse; to consult together; implying conversation on some serious or important subject, in distinction from mere talk or light familiar conversation; followed by with.
Adonijah conferred with Joab and Abiathar. I Kings 1.
Festus conferred with the council. Acts 25.
CONFER', v.t.
1. To give, or bestow; followed by on.
Coronation confers on the king no royal authority.
This word is particularly used to express the grant of favors, benefits and privileges to be enjoyed, or rights which are to be permanent; as, to confer on one the privileges of a citizen; to confer a title or an honor.
2. To compare; to examine by comparison; literally, to bring together. [See Compare.]
If we confer these observations with others of the like nature.
[This sense, though genuine, is now obsolete.]
3. To contribute; to conduce to; that is, to bring to. The closeness of parts confers much to the strength of the union, or intransitively, confers to the strength of the union.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: have a conference in order to talk something over; "We conferred about a plan of action" [syn: confer, confabulate, confab, consult]
2: present; "The university conferred a degree on its most famous former student, who never graduated"; "bestow an honor on someone" [syn: confer, bestow]

Merriam Webster's

verb (conferred; conferring) Etymology: Latin conferre to bring together, from com- + ferre to carry — more at bear Date: circa 1500 intransitive verb to compare views or take counsel ; consult transitive verb 1. to bestow from or as if from a position of superiority <conferred an honorary degree on her> <knowing how to read was a gift conferred with manhood — Murray Kempton> 2. to give (as a property or characteristic) to someone or something <a reputation for power will confer power — John Spanier> Synonyms: see give • conferment noun • conferrable adjective • conferral noun • conferrer noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. (conferred, conferring) 1 tr. (often foll. by on, upon) grant or bestow (a title, degree, favour, etc.). 2 intr. (often foll. by with) converse, consult. Derivatives: conferrable adj. Etymology: L conferre (as com-, ferre bring)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Confer Con*fer", v. i. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Confer Con*fer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Conferring.] [L. conferre to bring together, contribute, consult; con- + ferre to bear: cf. F. conf['e]rer. See 1st Bear.] 1. To bring together for comparison; to compare. [Obs.] 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. [Obs.] The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much confer to the strength of the union. --Glanvill.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(confers, conferring, conferred) 1. When you confer with someone, you discuss something with them in order to make a decision. You can also say that two people confer. He conferred with Hill and the others in his office... His doctors conferred by telephone and agreed that he must get away from his family for a time. V-RECIP: V with n, pl-n V 2. To confer something such as power or an honour on someone means to give it to them. (FORMAL) The constitution also confers large powers on Brazil's 25 constituent states... Never imagine that rank confers genuine authority. VERB: V n on n, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. Converse, discourse, parley, advise, talk, hold a conference, talk together, compare notes, interchange views. II. v. a. [Appropriately used when the gift is from a person of superior rank to another of lower rank.] Bestow, give, grant, vouchsafe.

Moby Thesaurus

abalienate, accord, administer, advise, advise with, advocate, afford, alien, alienate, allot, allow, amortize, argue, assign, award, bargain, barter, bequeath, bestow, bestow on, brief, call in, cede, chaffer, coach, collogue, communicate, compare notes, confab, confabulate, confer with, consign, consult, consult with, converse, convey, counsel, deal, deal out, debate, deed, deed over, deliberate, deliver, demise, devolve upon, direct, discuss, discuss with, dish out, dispense, dole, dole out, donate, enfeoff, exchange, exchange observations, exchange views, extend, fork out, gift, gift with, give, give freely, give out, give title to, grant, guide, hand, hand down, hand on, hand out, hand over, have conversations, heap, help to, hold conference, huddle, impart, instruct, issue, kibitz, lavish, let have, make over, meddle, mete, mete out, negotiate, offer, palaver, parley, pass, pass on, pass over, pour, powwow, prescribe, present, proffer, propose, provide, put heads together, rain, reason with, recommend, refer to, render, sell, serve, settle, settle on, shell out, shower, sign away, sign over, sit down together, sit down with, slip, snow, speak, submit, suggest, surrender, take counsel, take up with, talk, talk over, tender, trade, transfer, transmit, treat, turn over, vouchsafe, yield