Definition of "confer"

confer

/kənˈfʌɹ/

verb
third-person singular simple present confers, present participle conferring, simple past and past participle conferred
1. (transitive) To grant as a possession; to bestow.
  Quotations
  Nor shall I count in hainous to enjoyThe public marks of honour and reward Conferr'd upon me […]
  1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes
  Abel tried to refuse the honor thus unexpectedly conferred upon him, but it was no use. He had been made a deacon, and a deacon he must remain.
  1850, T. S. Arthur, “Deacon Smith and his Violin”, in Sketches of Life and Character‎, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, page 76
  The special immunities that are conferred on MPs were framed with the essential purpose of allowing them to speak freely in parliament.
  2010 February 7, Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer
  The mere existence of a dictionary of a certain variety of English does not automatically confer acceptance of that variety.
  2014, James Lambert, “Diachronic stability in Indian English lexis”, in World Englishes, page 114
2. (intransitive) To talk together, to consult, discuss; to deliberate.
  Quotations
  Local buttons popped when Henry Kissinger visited Little Rock last month to confer with Fulbright on the Middle East oil talks.
  1974 March 25, “A Traveler's Perils”, in Time
3. (obsolete) To compare.
  Quotations
  The Newe Testament ... Conferred diligently with the Greke, and best approued translations.
  1557 (book title)
  Confer thine estate with others […]. Be content and rest satisfied, for thou art well in respect to others […].
  1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, partition II, section 3, member 1, subsection i
  If we confer these observations with others of the like nature, we may find cause to rectify the general opinion.
  1661, Robert Boyle, The Second Essay, of Unsucceeding Experiments
4. (obsolete, transitive) To bring together; to collect, gather.
5. (obsolete) To contribute; to conduce.
  Quotations
  The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much confer to the strength of the union.
  1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica

Definition of "confer"

confer

verb

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations