Confederacy \Con*fed"er*a*cy\, n.; pl. Confederacies. [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) 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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