Chapter XCIII: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (2)

CONFECTURE Con*fec"ture, n.

Defn: Same as Confiture. [Obs.]

CONFEDER Con*fed"er, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. conf. See Confederate.]

Defn: To confederate. [Obs.] Sir T. North.

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.

CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. confoederatus, p. p. of confoederare to join by a league; con- + foederare to establish by treaty or league, fr. foedus league, compact. See Federal.]

1. United in a league; allied by treaty; engaged in a confederacy; banded together; allied. All the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace. Shak.

2. (Amer. Hist.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the government of the eleven Southern States of the United States which (1860-1865) attempted to establish an independent nation styled the Confederate States of America; as, the Confederate congress; Confederate money.

CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, n.

1. One who is united with others in a league; a person or a nation engaged in a confederacy; an ally; also, an accomplice in a bad sense. He found some of his confederates in gaol. Macaulay.

2. (Amer. Hist.)

Defn: A name designating an adherent to the cause of the States which attempted to withdraw from the Union (1860-1865).

CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confederated; p. pr. & vb. n. Confederating.]

Defn: To unite in a legue or confederacy; to ally. With these the Piercies them confederate. Daniel.

CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, v. i.

Defn: To unite in a league; to join in a mutual contract or covenant; to band together. By words men . . . covenant and confederate. South.

CONFEDERATER Con*fed"er*a`ter, n.

Defn: A confederate.

CONFEDERATION Con*fed`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. confoederatio: cf. F. confédération.]

1. The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support; alliance, particulary of princes, nations, or states. The three princes enter into some strict league and confederation among themselves. Bacon. This was no less than a political confederation of the colonies of New England. Palfrey.

2. The parties that are confederated, considered as a unit; a confederacy. Articles of confederation. See under Article.

CONFEDERATIVE Con*fed"er*a*tive ( or ), a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a confederation.

CONFEDERATOR Con*fed"er*a`tor, n.

Defn: A confederate. Grafton.

CONFER Con*fer", v.t. [imp. & p. p. Conferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Conferring.] Etym: [L. conferre to bring together, contribute, consult; con- + ferre to bear: cf. F. conférer. 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.

CONFER Con*fer", v. i.

Defn: 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.

CONFEREE Con`fer*ee", n. Etym: [Cf. Referee.]

1. One who is conferred with, or who takes part in a conference; as, the conferees on the part of the Senate.

2. One upon whom something is conferred.

CONFERENCE Con"fer*ence, n. Etym: [F. conférence. See Confer.]

1. The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison. [Obs.] Helps and furtherances which . . . the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford. Hocker.

2. The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views. Nor with such free and friendly conference As he hath used of old. Shak.

3. A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange of opinions.

4. A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their committees, to adjust between them.

5. (Methodist Church)

Defn: A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.

6. A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are. Conference meeting, a meeting for conference. Specifically, a meeting conducted (usually) by laymen, for conference and prayer. [U. S.] -- Conference room, a room for conference and prayer, and for the pastor's less formal addresses. [U. S.]

CONFERENTIAL Con`fer*en"tial, a.

Defn: Relating to conference. [R.] Clarke.

CONFERRABLE Con*fer"ra*ble a.

Defn: Capable of being conferred.

CONFERREE Con`fer*ree", n.

Defn: Same as Conferee.

CONFERRER Con*fer"rer, n.

1. One who confers; one who converses. Johnson.

2. One who bestows; a giver.

CONFERRUMINATE; CONFERRUMINATED Con`fer*ru"mi*nate, Con`fer*ru"mi*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. conferruminare to cement. See Ferruminate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Closely united by the coalescence, or sticking together, of contiguous faces, as in the case of the cotyledons of the live-oak acorn.

CONFERVA Con*fer"va, n.; pl. Confervæ. Etym: [L., a kind of water plant. See Comfrey.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any unbranched, slender, green plant of the fresh-water algae. The word is frequently used in a wider sense.

CONFERVACEOUS Con`fer*va"ceous, a.

Defn: Belonging to the confervae.

CONFERVOID Con*fer"void, a. Etym: [Conferva + -oid.]

Defn: Like, or related to, the confervae. Loudon.

CONFERVOUS Con*fer"vous, a.

Defn: Pertaining to confervae; consisting of, or resembling, the confervae. Yon exiguous pool's confervous scum. O. W. Holmes.

CONFESS Con*fess", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confessed; p.pr. & vb.n. Confessing.] Etym: [F. confesser, fr. L. confessus, p.p. of confiteri to confess; con- + fateri to confess; akin to fari to speak. See 2d Ban, Fame.]

1. To make acknowledgment or avowal in a matter pertaining to one's self; to acknowledge, own, or admit, as a crime, a fault, a debt. And there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg. Milton. I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned. Addison.

2. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in. Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess, also, before my Father which is in heaven. Matt. x. 32. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Acts xxiii. 8.

3. To admit as true; to assent to; to acknowledge, as after a previous doubt, denial, or concealment. I never gave it him. Send for him hither, And let him confess a truth. Shak. As I confess it needs must be. Tennyson. As an actor confessed without rival to shine. Goldsmith.

4. (Eccl.) (a) To make known or acknowledge, as one's sins to a priest, in order to receive absolution; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun. Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father. Addison.

(b) To hear or receive such confession; -- said of a priest. He . . . heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed. Ld. Berners.

5. To disclose or reveal, as an effect discloses its cause; to prove; to attest. Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold. Pope.

Syn. -- Admit; grant; concede; avow; own; assent; recognize; prove; exhibit; attest. -- To Confess, Acknowledge, Avow. Acknowledge is opposed to conceal. We acknowledge what we feel must or ought to be made known. (See Acknowledge.) Avow is opposed to withhold. We avow when we make an open and public declaration, as against obloquy or opposition; as, to avow one's principles; to avow one's participation in some act. Confess is opposed to deny. We confess (in the ordinary sense of the word) what we feel to have been wrong; as, to confess one's errors or faults. We sometimes use confess and acknowledge when there is no admission of our being in the wrong; as, this, I confess, is my opinion; I acknowledge I have always thought so; but in these cases we mean simply to imply that others may perhaps think us in the wrong, and hence we use the words by way of deference to their opinions. It was in this way that the early Christians were led to use the Latin confiteor and confessio fidei to denote the public declaration of their faith in Christianity; and hence the corresponding use in English of the verb confess and the noun confession.

CONFESS Con*fess", v. i.

1. To make confession; to disclose sins or faults, or the state of the conscience. Every tongue shall confess to God. Rom. xiv. 11.

2. To acknowledge; to admit; to concede. But since (And I confess with right) you think me bound. Tennyson.

CONFESSANT Con*fess"ant, n. Etym: [F. confessant.]

Defn: One who confesses to a priest. [Obs.] Bacon.

CONFESSARY Con*fess"a*ry, n. Etym: [LL. confessarius.]

Defn: One who makes a confession. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

CONFESSEDLY Con*fess"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: By confession; without denial. [Written also confessly.]

CONFESSER Con*fess"er, n.

Defn: One who makes a confession.

CONFESSION Con*fes"sion, n. Etym: [F. confession, L. confessio.]

1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime. With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Shak.

2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith. With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. x. 10.

3. (Eccl.)

Defn: The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to obtain sacramental absolution. Auricular confession . . . or the private and special confession of sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution. Hallam.

4. A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to membership of a church; a confession of faith.

5. (Law)

Defn: An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed, in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted. Wharton. Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them. Mozley & W. Confession of faith, a formulary containing the articles of faith; a creed. -- General confession, the confession of sins made by a number of persons in common, as in public prayer. -- Westminster Confession. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.

CONFESSIONAL Con*fes"sion*al, n. Etym: [F. confessional.]

Defn: The recess, seat, or inclosed place, where a priest sits to hear confessions; often a small structure furnished with a seat for the priest and with a window or aperture so that the penitent who is outside may whisper into the priest's ear without being seen by him or heard by others.

CONFESSIONAL Con*fes"sion*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to a confession of faith. Confessional equality, equality before the law of persons confessing different creeds.

CONFESSIONALISM Con*fes"sion*al*ism, n. (Eccl.)

Defn: An exaggerated estimate of the importance of giving full assent to any particular formula of the Christian faith. Shaff.

CONFESSIONALIST Con*fes"sion*al*ist, n.

Defn: A priest hearing, or sitting to hear, confession. [R.] Boucher

CONFESSIONARY Con*fes"sion*a*ry, n. Etym: [LL. confessionarium.]

Defn: A confessional. [Obs.] Johnson.

CONFESSIONARY Con*fes"sion*a*ry, a.

Defn: Pertaining to auricular confession; as, a confessionary litany.

CONFESSIONIST Con*fes"sion*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. confessioniste.]

Defn: One professing a certain faith. Bp. Montagu.

CONFESSOR Con*fess"or, n. Etym: [OF. confessor, F. confesseur, fr. L. & LL. confessor.]

1. One who confesses; one who acknowledges a fault, or the truth of a charge, at the risk of suffering; specifically, one who confesses himself a follower of Christ and endures persecution for his faith. He who dies for religion is a martyr; he who suffers for it is a confessor. Latham. Our religion which hath been sealed with the blood of so many martyrs and confessors. Bacon.

2. A priest who hears the confessions of others and is authorized to grant them absolution.

CONFESSORSHIP Con*fess"or*ship, n.

Defn: The act or state of suffering persecution for religious faith. Our duty to contend even to confessorship. J. H. Newman.

CONFESTLY Con*fest"ly, adv.

Defn: See Cofessedly.

CONFETTI Con*fet"ti, n. pl.; sing. -fetto. [It. Cf. Comfit.]

Defn: Bonbons; sweetmeats; confections; also, plaster or paper imitations of, or substitutes for, bonbons, often used by carnival revelers, at weddings, etc.

CONFIDANT; CONFIDANTE Con`fi*dant"; 277), n. masc., Con`fi*dante", n. fem.Etym: [F. confident, confidente, formerly also spelt confidant, confidante. See Confide, and cf. Confident.]

Defn: One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of love, are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend. You love me for no other end Than to become my confidant and friend; As such I keep no secret from your sight. Dryden.

CONFIDE Con*fide", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Confided; p.pr. & vb.n. Confiding.] Etym: [L. confidere; con- + fidere to trust. See Faith, and cf. Affiance.]

Defn: To put faith (in); to repose confidence; to trust; -- usually followed by in; as, the prince confides in his ministers. By thy command I rise or fall, In thy protection I confide. Byron. Judge before friendships, then confide till death. Young.

CONFIDE Con*fide", v. t.

Defn: To intrust; to give in charge; to commit to one's keeping; -- followed by to. Congress may . . . confide to the Circuit jurisdiction of all offenses against the United States. Story.

CONFIDENCE Con"fi*dence, n. Etym: [L. confidentia firm trust in, self- confidence: cf. F. confidence.]

1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. South. A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay.

2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. The Lord shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii. 26.

3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstamces; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. Shak. But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.

4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak. Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler. -- Confidence man, a swindler. -- To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.

Syn. -- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope. I am confident that very much be done. Boyle.

2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. Shak.

3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. Shak.

4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv. 16.

5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.] The cause was more confident than the event was prosperious. Jer. Taylor.

CONFIDENT Con"fi*dent, n.

Defn: See Confidant. South. Dryden.

CONFIDENTIAL Con`fi*den"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. confidentiel.]

1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk.

2. Communicated in confidence; secret. "Confidential messages." Burke. Confidential communication (Law) See Privileged communication, under Privileged. -- Confidential creditors, those whose claims are of such a character that they are entitled to be paid before other creditors. -- Confidential debts, debts incurred for borrowed money, and regarded as having a claim to be paid before other debts. McElrath.

CONFIDENTIALLY Con`fi*den"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: In confidence; in reliance on secrecy.

CONFIDENTLY Con"fi*dent*ly, adv.

Defn: With confidence; with strong assurance; positively.

CONFIDENTNESS Con"fi*dent*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being confident.

CONFIDER Con*fid"er, n.

Defn: One who confides.

CONFIDING Con*fid"ing, a.

Defn: That confides; trustful; unsuspicious. -- Con*fid"ing*ly, adv. -- Con*fid"ing*ness, n.

CONFIGURATE Con*fig"ur*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. configuratus, p.p. of configurare to form or after; con- + figurare to form, figura form. See Figure.]

Defn: To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure; to agree with a pattern. Known by the name of uniformity; Where pyramids to pyramids relate And the whole fabric doth configurate. Jordan.

CONFIGURATION Con*fig`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. configuratio.]

1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing' shape; figure. It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris.

2. (Astrol.)

Defn: Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time. They [astrologers] undertook . . . to determine the course of a man's character and life from the configuration of the stars at the moment of his birth. Whewell.

CONFIGURE Con*fig"ure, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Configured; p.pr. & vb.n. Configuring.] Etym: [L. configurare: cf. F. configurer. See Configurate.]

Defn: To arrange or dispose in a certain form, figure, or shape. Bentley.

CONFINABLE Con*fin"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being confined, restricted, or limited. Not confinable to any limits. Bp. Hall.

CONFINE Con*fine", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confined; p.pr. & vb.n. Confining.] Etym: [F. confiner to border upon, LL. confinare to set bounds to; con- + finis boundary, end. See Final, Finish.]

Defn: To restrain within limits; to restrict; to limit; to bound; to shut up; to inclose; to keep close. Now let not nature's hand Keep the wild flood confined! let order die! Shak. He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the slavery of rhyme. Dryden. To be confined, to be in childbed.

Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrain; imprison; immure; inclose; circumscribe; restrict.

CONFINE Con"fine or

Defn: (v. i. To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous; to touch; -- followed by on or with. [Obs.] Where your g;oomy bounds Confine with heaven. Milton. Beywixt hezven and earth and skies there stands a place. Confuining on all three. Dryden.

CONFINE Con"fine, n.

1. Common boundary; border; limit; -- used chiefly in the plural. Events that came to pass within the confines of Judea. Locke. And now in little space The confines met of emryrean heaven, And of this world. Milton. On the confines of the city and the Temple. Macaulay.

2. Apartment; place of restraint; prison. [Obs.] Confines, wards, and dungeons. Shak. The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine. Shak.

CONFINELESS Con"fine`less ( or ), a.

Defn: Without limitation or end; boundless. Shak.

CONFINEMENT Con*fine"ment, n.

1. Restraint within limits; imprisonment; any restraint of liberty; seclusion. The mind hates restraint, and is apt to fancy itself under confinement when the sight is pent up. Addison.

2. Restraint within doors by sickness, esp. that caused by childbirth; lying-in.

CONFINER Con*fin"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, limits or restrains.

CONFINER Con"fi`ner ( or , n.

Defn: One who lives on confines, or near the border of a country; a borderer; a near neighbor. [Obs.] Bacon. Happy confiners you of other lands, That shift your soil, and oft 'scape tyrants' hands. Daniel.

CONFINITY Con*fin"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. confinité.]

Defn: Community of limits; contiguity. [R.] Bailey.

CONFIRM Con*firm", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confrmed; p.pr. & vb.n. Confirming.] Etym: [OE. confermen, confirmen, OF. confermer, F. confirmer, fr. L. confirmare; con- + firmare to make firm, fr. firmus firm. See Firm.]

1. To make firm or firmer; to add strength to; to establish; as, health is confirmed by exercise. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs. Shak. Annd confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law. Ps. cv. 10.

2. To strengthen in judgment or purpose. Confirmed, then, I resolve Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe. Milton.

3. To give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor. Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale. Pope. These likelihoods confirm her flight. Shak.

4. To render valid by formal assent; to complete by a necessary sanction; to ratify; as, to confirm the appoinment of an official; the Senate confirms a treaty. That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than confimed. Swift.

5. (Eccl.)

Defn: To administer the rite of confirmation to. See Confirmation, 3. Those which are thus confirmed are thereby supposed to be fit for admission to the sacrament. Hammond.

Syn. -- To strengthen; corroborate; substantiate; establish; fix; ratify; settle; verify; assure.

CONFIRMABLE Con*firm"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be confirmed.

CONFIRMANCE Con*firm"ance, n.

Defn: Confirmation. [Obs.]

CONFIRMATION Con`fir*ma"tion, n. Etym: [F. confirmation, L. confirmatio.]

1. The act of confirming or strengthening; the act of establishing, ratifying, or sanctioning; as, the confirmation of an appointment. Their blood is shed In confirmation of the noblest claim. Cowper.

2. That which confirms; that which gives new strength or assurance; as to a statement or belief; additional evidence; proof; convincing testimony. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. Shak.

3. (Eccl.)

Defn: A rite supplemental to baptism, by which a person is admitted, through the laying on of the hands of a bishop, to the full privileges of the church, as in the Roman Catholic, the Episcopal Church, etc. This ordinance is called confirmation, because they who duly receive it are confirmed or strengthened for the fulfillment of their Christian duties, by the grace therein bestowed upon them. Hook.

4. (Law)

Defn: A conveyance by which a voidable estate is made sure and not voliable, or by which a particular estate is increased; a contract, express or implied, by which a person makes that firm and binding which was before voidable.

CONFIRMATIVE Con*firm"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. confirmativus: cf. F. confirmatif.]

Defn: Tending confirm or establish. Sherwood. -- Con*firm"a*tive*ly, adv.

CONFIRMATOR Con"fir*ma`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who, or that which, confirms; a confirmer. Sir T. Browne.

CONFIRMATORY Con*firm"a*to*ry, a. .

Defn: Serving to confirm; corroborative. A fact confirmatory of the conclusion. I. Taylor.

2. Pertaining to the rite of confirmation. Compton.

CONFIRMEDLY Con*firm"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: With confirmation.

CONFIRMEDNESS Con*firm"ed*ness, n.

Defn: A fixed state.

CONFIRMEE Con`fir*mee", n. Etym: [F. confirm, p.p. of confirmer.] (Law)

Defn: One to whom anuthing is confirmed.

CONFIRMER Con*firm"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, confirms, establishes, or ratifies; one who corroborates. Shak.

CONFIRMINGLY Con*firm"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a confirming manner.

CONFISCABLE Con*fis"ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. confiscable.]

Defn: Capable of being confiscated; liable to forfeiture.

CONFISCATE Con"fis*cate ( or , a. Etym: [L. confiscatus, p.p. of confiscare to confiscate, prop., to lay up in a chest; con- + fiscus basket, purse, treasury. See Fiscal.]

Defn: Seized and appropriated by the government to the public use; forfeited. Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. Shak.

CONFISCATE Con"fis*cate ( or , v. t. [imp & p. p. Confiscated; p.pr & vb. n. Confiscating.]

Defn: To seize as forfeited to the public treasury; to appropriate to the public use. It was judged that he should be banished and his whole estate confiscated and seized. Bacon.

CONFISCATION Con`fis*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. confiscatio.]

Defn: The act or process of taking property or condemning it to be taken, as forfeited to the public use. The confiscations following a subdued rebellion. Hallam.

CONFISCATOR Con"fis*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L., a treasurer.]

Defn: One who confiscates. Burke.

CONFISCATORY Con*fis"ca*to*ry, a.

Defn: Effecting confiscation; characterized by confiscations. "Confiscatory and exterminatory periods." Burke.

CONFIT Con"fit, n.

Defn: Same as Comfit. [Obs.]

CONFITENT Con"fi*tent, n. Etym: [L. confitens, p.pr.]

Defn: One who confesses his sins and faults. [Obs.]

CONFITEOR Con*fit"e*or, n. Etym: [L., I confess. See Confess.] (R.C.Ch.)

Defn: A form of prayer in which public confession of sins is made.

CONFITURE Con"fi*ture ( or , n.

Defn: The state or quality of being congenial; natural affinity; adaptation; suitableness. Sir J. Reynolds. If congeniality of tastes could have made a marriage happy, that union should have been thrice blessed. Motley.

CONFIX Con*fix", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Confixing.] [L. confixus, p. p. of configere to fasten together.]

Defn: To fix; to fasten. [Obs.] Shak.

CONFIXURE Con*fix"ure (; 135), n.

Defn: Act of fastening. [Obs.]

CONFLAGRANT Con*fla"grant, a. [L. conflagrans, p. pr. of conflagrare; con- + flagrare to blaze. See Flagrant.]

Defn: Burning together in a common flame. [R.] "The conflagrant mass." Milton.

CONFLAGRATION Con`fla*gra"tion, n. [L. conflagratio: cf. F. conflagration.]

Defn: A fire extending to many objects, or over a large space; a general burning.

Till one wide conflagration swallows all. Pope.

CONFLATE Con*flate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conflated; p. pr. & vb. n. Conflating.] [L. conflatus, p. p. of conflare to blow together; con- + flare to blow.]

Defn: To blow together; to bring together; to collect; to fuse together; to join or weld; to consolidate.

The State-General, created and conflated by the passionate effort of the whole nation. Carlyle.

CONFLATION Con*fla"tion, n. [L. conflatio.]

Defn: A blowing together, as of many instruments in a concert, or of many fires in a foundry. [R.] Bacon.

CONFLICT Con"flict, n. [L. conflictus a striking together, fr. confligere, - flictum, to strike together, to fight: cf. F. conflit, formerly also conflict. See Conflict, v.]

1. A striking or dashing together; violent collision; as, a conflict of elements or waves.

2. A strife for the mastery; hostile contest; battle; struggle; fighting.

As soon as he [Atterbury] was himself again, he became eager for action and conflict. Macaulay.

An irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces. W. H. Seward.

Conflict of laws, that branch of jurisprudence which deals with individual litigation claimed to be subject to the conflicting laws of two or more states or nations; -- often used as synonymous with Private international law.

Syn. -- Contest; collision; struggle; combat; strife; contention; battle; fight; encounter. See Contest.

CONFLICT Con*flict", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conflicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Conflicting.] [L. conflictus, p. p. of confligere to conflict (cf. conflictare); con- + fligere to strike; cf. Gr. fli`bein, qli`bein, to press, L. flagrum whip.]

1. To strike or dash together; to meet in violent collision; to collide. Shak.

Fire and water conflicting together. Bacon.

2. To maintain a conflict; to contend; to engage in strife or opposition; to struggle.

A man would be content to . . . conflict with great difficulties, in hopes of a mighty reward. Abp. Tillotson.

3. To be in opposition; to be contradictory.

The laws of the United States and of the individual States may, in some cases, conflict with each other. Wheaton.

Syn. -- To fight; contend; contest; resist; struggle; combat; strive; battle.

CONFLICTING Con*flict"ing, a.

Defn: Being in conflict or collision, or in opposition; contending; contradictory; incompatible; contrary; opposing.

Torn with sundry conflicting passions. Bp. Hurd.

CONFLICTIVE Con*flict"ive, a.

Defn: Tending to conflict; conflicting. Sir W. Hamilton.

CONFLUENCE Con"flu*ence, n. [L. confluentia.]

1. The act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or more streams; the place of meeting.

New York stood at the confluence of two rivers. Bancroft.

2. Any running together of separate streams or currents; the act of meeting and crowding in a place; hence, a crowd; a concourse; an assemblage.

You see this confluence, this great flood of vistors. Shak.

The confluence . . . of all true joys. Boyle.

CONFLUENT Con"flu*ent, a. [L. confluens, -entis, p. pr. of confluere, -fluxum; con- + fluere to flow. See Fluent.]

1. Flowing together; meeting in their course; running one into another.

These confluent steams make some great river's head. Blackmore.

2. (Bot.) Blended into one; growing together, so as to obliterate all distinction.

3. (Med.) (a) Running together or uniting, as pimples or pustules. (b) Characterized by having the pustules, etc., run together or unite, so as to cover the surface; as, confluent smallpox. Dunglison.

CONFLUENT Con"flu*ent, n.

1. A small steam which flows into a large one.

2. The place of meeting of steams, currents, etc. [Obs.] Holland.

CONFLUX Con"flux, n. [From L. confluxus, p. p. See Confluent.]

1. A flowing together; a meeting of currents. "The conflux of meeting sap." Shak.

The general conflux and concourse of the whole people. Clarendon.

2. A large assemblage; a passing multitude.

To the gates cast round thine eye, and see What conflux issuing forth, or entering in. Milton.

CONFLUXIBILITY Con*flux`i*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The tendency of fluids to run together. [R.] Boyle.

CONFLUXIBLE Con*flux"i*ble, a.

Defn: Inclined to flow or run together. --Con*flux"i*ble*ness, n.

CONFOCAL Con*fo"cal, a. (Math.)

Defn: Having the same foci; as, confocal quadrics.

CONFORM Con*form", a. [L. conformis; con- + forma form: cf. F. conforme.]

Defn: Of the same form; similar in import; conformable. Bacon.

Care must be taken that the interpretation be every way conform to the analogy of faith. Bp.Hall.

CONFORM Con*form", v. i.

1. To be in accord or harmony; to comply; to be obedient; to submit; -- with to or with.

A rule to which experience must conform. Whewell.

2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) To comply with the usages of the Established Church; to be a conformist.

About two thousand ministers whose consciences did not suffer them to conform were driven from their benefices in a day. Macaulay.

CONFORM Con*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conformed; p. pr. & vb. n. Conforming.] [F. conformer, L. conformare, -formatum; con- + formare to form, forma form. See Form.]

Defn: To shape in accordance with; to make like; to bring into harmony or agreement with; -- usually with to or unto.

Demand of them wherefore they conform not themselves unto the order of the church. Hooker.

CONFORMABILITY Con*form`a*bil"i*ty, n.

1. The state of being conformable.

2. (Geol.) The parallelism of two sets of strata which are in contact.

CONFORMABLE Con*form"a*ble, a.

1. Corresponding in form, character, opinions, etc.; similar; like; consistent; proper or suitable; --usually followed by to.

The fragments of Sappho give us a taste of her way of writing perfectly conformable with that character. Addison.

Conformable to Scripture as well as to philosophy. Whewell.

To make matters somewhat conformable for the old knight. Sir W. Scott.

2. Disposed to compliance or obedience; ready to follow directions; submissive; compliant.

I have been to you a true and humble wife, At all times to your will conformable. Shak.

3. (Geol.) Parallel, or nearly so; -- said of strata in contact.

CONFORMABLENESS Con*form"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being conformable; conformability.

CONFORMABLY Con*form"a*bly, adv.

Defn: With conformity or in conformity; suitably; agreeably.

Conformably to the law and nature of God. Bp. Beveridge.

CONFORMANCE Con*form"ance, n.

Defn: Conformity. [R.] Marston.

CONFORMATE Con*form"ate, a. [L. conformatus, p. p. See Conform.]

Defn: Having the same form. [R.]

CONFORMATION Con`for*ma"tion, n. [L. conformatio: cf. F. conformation.]

1. The act of conforming; the act of producing conformity.

The conformation of our hearts and lives to the duties of true religion and morality. I. Watts.

2. The state of being conformed; agreement; hence; structure, as depending on the arrangement of parts; form; arrangement.

In Hebrew poetry, there may be observed a certain conformation of the sentences. Lowth.

A structure and conformation of the earth. Woodward.

CONFORMATOR Con"for*ma`tor, n. [L., a framer.]

Defn: An apparatus for taking the conformation of anything, as of the head for fitting a hat, or, in craniometry, finding the largest horizontal area of the head.

CONFORMER Con*form"er, n.

Defn: One who conforms; one who complies with established forms or doctrines.

CONFORMIST Con*form"ist, n.

Defn: One who conforms or complies; esp., one who conforms to the Church of England, or to the Established Church, as distinguished from a dissenter or nonconformist.

A cheeful conformist to your judgment. Jer.Taylor.

CONFORMITY Con*form"i*ty, n.; pl. Conformities (#). [Cf. F. conformité.]

1. Correspondence in form, manner, or character; resemblance; agreement; congruity; -- followed by to, with, or between.

By our conformity to God. Tillotson.

The end of all religion is but to draw us to a conformity with God. Dr. H.More.

A conformity between the mental taste and the sensitive taste. Addison.

2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) Compliance with the usages of the Established Church.

The king [James I.] soon afterward put forth a proclamation requiring all ecclesiastical and civil officers to do their duty by enforcing conformity. Hallam.

CONFORTATION Con`for*ta"tion, n. [Cf. F. confortation, LL. confortatio. Cf. Comfort.]

Defn: The act of strengthening. [Obs.] Bacon.

CONFOUND Con*found" (kon*found"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Confounding.] [F. confondre, fr. L. confundere, -fusum, to pour together; con- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt, and cf. Confuse.]

1. To mingle and blend, so that different elements can not be distinguished; to confuse.

They who strip not ideas from the marks men use for them, but confound them with words, must have endless dispute. Locke.

Let us go down, and there confound their language. Gen. xi. 7.

2. To mistake for another; to identify falsely.

They [the tinkers] were generally vagrants and pilferers, and were often confounded with the gypsies. Macaulay.

3. To throw into confusion or disorder; to perplex; to strike with amazement; to dismay.

The gods confound... The Athenians both within and out that wall. Shak.

They trusted in thee and were not confounded. Ps. xxii. 5.

So spake the Son of God, and Satan stood A while as mute, confounded what to say. Milton.

4. To destroy; to ruin; to waste. [Obs.]

One man's lust these many lives confounds. Shak.

How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour Shak.

Syn. -- To abash; confuse; baffle; dismay; astonish; defeat; terrify; mix; blend; intermingle. See Abash.

CONFOUNDED Con*found"ed, a.

1. Confused; perplexed.

A cloudy and confounded philosopher. Cudworth.

2. Excessive; extreme; abominable. [Colloq.]

He was a most confounded tory. Swift.

The tongue of that confounded woman. Sir. W. Scott.

CONFOUNDEDLY Con*found"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Extremely; odiously; detestably. [Colloq.] "Confoundedly sick." Goldsmith.

CONFOUNDEDNESS Con*found"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being confounded.

Their witty descant of my confoundedness. Milton.

CONFOUNDER Con*found"er, n.

Defn: One who confounds.

CONFRACT Con"fract`, a. [L. confractus, p. p. of confringere.]

Defn: Broken in pieces; severed. [Obs.]

CONFRAGOSE Con`fra*gose", a. [L. confragosus; con- + fragosus, fr. frangere. See Fragile.]

Defn: Broken; uneven. [Obs.] "Confragose cataracts." Evelyn.

CONFRATERNITY Con`fra*ter"ni*ty, n.; pl. Confraternities (#). [LL. confraternitas: cf. F. confraternité. See Fraternity.]

Defn: A society or body of men united for some purpose, or in some profession; a brotherhood.

These live in one society and confraternity. Stow.

CONFRERE Con`frere", n. [F.]

Defn: Fellow member of a fraternity; intimate associate.

CONFRICATION Con`fri*ca"tion, n. [L. confricatio, fr. confricare to rub vigorously.]

Defn: A rubbing together; friction. [Obs.] Bacon.

CONFRIER Con*fri"er, n. [Cf. F. confrère. See Friar.]

Defn: A confrère. [Obs.] Weever.

CONFRONT Con*front", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confronted; p. pr. & vb. n. Confronting.] [F. confronter; L. con- + frons the forehead or front. See Front.]

1. To stand facing or in front of; to face; esp. to face hostilely; to oppose with firmness.

We four, indeed, confronted were with four In Russian habit. Shak.

He spoke and then confronts the bull. Dryden.

Hester caught hold of Pearl, and drew her forcibly into her arms, confronting the old Puritan magistrate with almost a fierce expression. Hawthorne.

It was impossible at once to confront the might of France and to trample on the liberties of England. Macaulay.

2. To put face to face; to cause to face or to meet; as, to confront one with the proofs of his wrong doing.

3. To set in opposition for examination; to put in contrast; to compare.

When I confront a medal with a verse, I only show you the same design executed by different hands. Addison.

CONFRONTATION Con`fron*ta"tion, n. [LL. confrontatio.]

Defn: Act of confronting. H. Swinburne.

CONFRONTE Con`fron`té", a. [F., p. p. confronter.] (Her.)

Defn: Same as Affronté.

CONFRONTER Con*front"er, n.

Defn: One who confronts.

A confronter in authority. Speed.

CONFRONTING confronting n.

Defn: dealing with (a person or problem) directly; taking the bull by the horns. Syn. -- braving, coping with, grappling, tackling. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

CONFRONTMENT Con*front"ment, n.

Defn: The act of confronting; the state of being face to face.

CONFRONTMENT Con*front"ment, n.

Defn: The act of confronting; the state of being face to face.

CONFUCIAN Con*fu"cian, a.

Defn: Of, or relating to, Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher and teacher. -- n.

Defn: A Confucianist.

CONFUCIANISM Con*fu"cian*ism, n.

Defn: The political morality taught by Confucius and his disciples, which forms the basis of the Chinese jurisprudence and education. It can hardly be called a religion, as it does not inculcate the worship of any god. S. W. Williams.

CONFUCIANIST Con*fu"cian*ist, n.

Defn: A follower of Confucius; a Confucian. S. W. Williams.

CONFUS Con*fus, a. [F. See Confuse, a.]

Defn: Confused, disturbed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CONFUSABILITY Con*fus`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Capability of being confused.

CONFUSABLE Con*fus"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being confused.

CONFUSE Con*fuse", a. [F. confus, L. confusus, p. p. of confundere. See Confound.]

Defn: Mixed; confounded. [Obs.] Baret.

CONFUSE Con*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confused; p. pr. & vb. n. Confusing.]

1. To mix or blend so that things can not be distinguished; to jumble together; to confound; to render indistinct or obscure; as, to confuse accounts; to confuse one's vision.

A universal hubbub wild Of stunning sounds and voices all confused. Milton.

2. To perplex; to disconcert; to abash; to cause to lose self- possession.

Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse A life that leads melodious days. Tennyson.

Confused and sadly she at length replied. Pope.

Syn. -- To abash; disorder; disarrange; disconcert; confound; obscure; distract. See Abash.

CONFUSEDLY Con*fus"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In a confused manner.

CONFUSEDNESS Con*fus"ed*ness, n.

Defn: A state of confusion. Norris.

CONFUSELY Con*fuse"ly, adv.

Defn: Confusedly; obscurely. [Obs.]

CONFUSION Con*fu"sion, n. [F. confusion, L. confusio.]

1. The state of being mixed or blended so as to produce indistinctness or error; indistinct combination; disorder; tumult.

The confusion of thought to which the Aristotelians were liable. Whewell.

Moody beggars starving for a time Of pellmell havoc and confusion. Shak.

2. The state of being abashed or disconcerted; loss self-possession; perturbation; shame.

Confusion dwelt in every face And fear in every heart. Spectator.

3. Overthrow; defeat; ruin.

Ruin seize thee, ruthless king, Confusion on thy banners wait. Gray.

4. One who confuses; a confounder. [Obs.] Chapmen.

Confusion of goods (Law), the intermixture of the goods of two or more persons, so that their respective portions can no longer be distinguished. Blackstone. Bouvier.

CONFUSIVE Con*fu"sive, a.

Defn: Confusing; having a tendency to confusion. Bp. Hall.

CONFUTABLE Con*fut"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be confuted.

A conceit . . . confutable by daily experience. Sir T.Browne.

CONFUTANT Con*fut"ant, n. [L. confutans, p. pr. of confutare.]

Defn: One who undertakes to confute. Milton.

CONFUTATION Con`fu*ta"tion, n. [L. confutatio: cf. F. confutation.]

Defn: The act or process of confuting; refutation. "For the edification of some and the confutation of others." Bp. Horne.

CONFUTATIVE Con*fut"a*tive, a.

Defn: Adapted or designed to confute. Bp. Warburton

CONFUTE Con*fute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Confuting.] [L. confutare to chek (a boiling liquid), to repress, confute; con- + a root seen in futis a water vessel), prob. akin to fundere to pour: cf. F. confuter. See Fuse to melt.]

Defn: To overwhelm by argument; to refute conclusively; to prove or show to be false or defective; to overcome; to silence.

Satan stood . . . confuted and convinced Of his weak arguing fallacious drift. Milton.

No man's error can be confuted who doth not . . . grant some true principle that contradicts his error. Chillingworth.

I confute a good profession with a bad conversation. Fuller.

Syn. -- To disprove; overthrow; sed aside; refute; oppugn. -- To Confute, Refute. Refute is literally to and decisive evidence; as, to refute a calumny, charge, etc. Confute is literally to check boiling, as when cold water is poured into hot, thus serving to allay, bring down, or neutralize completely. Hence, as applied to arguments (and the word is never applied, like refute, to charges), it denotes, to overwhelm by evidence which puts an end to the case and leaves an opponent nothing to say; to silence; as, "the atheist is confuted by the whole structure of things around him."

CONFUTEMENT Con*fute"ment, n.

Defn: Confutation. [Obs.] Milton.

CONFUTER Con*fut"er, n.

Defn: One who confutes or disproves.

CONG Cong, n. (Med.)

Defn: An abbreviation of Congius.

CONGE Con"ge, v. i. [Imp. & p. p. Congeed; p. pr. & vb. n. Congeing.] [OF. congier, congeer, F. congédier, fr. congé. See Congé, n.]

Defn: To take leave with the customary civilities; to bow or courtesy.

I have congeed with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest. Shak.

CONGE Con`gé" (kôN`zhay"; E. kon"je; 277), n. [F., leave, permission, fr. L. commeatus a going back and forth, a leave of absence, furlough, fr. commeare, -meatum, to go and come; com- + meare to go. Cf. Permeate.] [Formerly written congie.]

1. The act of taking leave; parting ceremony; farewell; also, dismissal.

Should she pay off old Briggs and give her her congé Thackeray.

2. The customary act of civility on any occasion; a bow or a courtesy.

The captain salutes you with congé profound. Swift.

3. (Arch.) An apophyge. Gwilt.

Congé d'élire [F., leave to choose] (Eccl.), the sovereign's license or permission to a dean and chapter to choose as bishop the person nominated in the missive.

CONGEABLE Con"ge*a*ble, a. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: Permissible; done lawfully; as, entry congeable.

CONGEAL Con*geal", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Congealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Congealing.] [F. congeler, L. congelare, -gelatumn; con- + gelare to freeze, gelu frost. See Gelid.]

1. To change from a fluid to a solid state by cold; to freeze.

A vapory deluge lies to snow congealed. Thomson.

2. To affect as if by freezing; to check the flow of, or cause to run cold; to chill.

As if with horror to congeal his blood. Stirling.

CONGEAL Con*geal", v. i.

Defn: To grow hard, stiff, or thick, from cold or other causes; to become solid; to freeze; to cease to flow; to run cold; to be chilled.

Lest zeal, now melted . . . Cool and congeal again to what it was. Shak.

CONGEALABLE Con*geal"a*ble, a. [Cf. F. congelable.]

Defn: Capable of being congealed. --Con*geal"a*ble*ness, n.

CONGEALEDNESS Con*geal"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being congealed. Dr. H.More.

CONGEALMENT Con*geal"ment, n.

1. The act or the process of congealing; congeliation.

2. That which is formed by congelation; a clot. [Obs.]

Wash the congealment from your wounds. Shak.

CONGEE Con"gee, n. & v.

Defn: See Congé, Conge. [Obs.]

And unto her his congee came to take. Spenser.

CONGEE Con*gee", n.

1. [Tamil kashi boilings.]

Defn: Boiled rice; rice gruel. [India]

2. A jail; a lockup. [India]

Congee discharges, rice water discharges. Dunglison. -- Congee water, water in which rice has been boiled.

CONGELATION Con`ge*la"tion, n. [F. congélation, L. congelatio.]

1. The act or process of passing, or causing to pass, from a fluid to a solid state, as by the abstraction of heat; the act or process of freezing.

The capillary tubes are obstructed either by outward compression or congelation of the fluid. Arbuthnot.

2. The state of being congealed.

3. That which is congealed.

Sugar plums . . . with a multitude of congelations in jellies of various colors. Taller.

CONGENER Con"ge*ner (; 277), n. [From L. congener. See Congenerous.]

Defn: A thing of the same genus, species, or kind; a thing allied in nature, character, or action.

The cherry tree has been often grafted on the laurel, to which it is a congener. P. Miller.

Our elk is more polygamous in his habits than any other deer except his congener, the red deer of Europe. Caton.

CONGENERACY Con*gen"er*a*cy, n.

Defn: Similarity of origin; affinity. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

CONGENERIC; CONGENERICAL Con`ge*ner"ic, Con`ge*ner"ic*al, a.

Defn: Belonging to the same genus; allied in origin, nature, or action. R. Owen.

CONGENEROUS Con*gen"er*ous, a. [L. congener; con- + genus, generis, birth, kind, race. See Genus, and cf. Congener.]

Defn: Allied in origin or cause; congeneric; as, congenerous diseases. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

-- Con*gen"er*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Hallywell.

CONGENIAL Con*gen"ial (; 106), a. [Pref. con- + genial.]

1. Partaking of the same nature; allied by natural characteristics; kindred; sympathetic.

Congenial souls! whose life one avarice joins. Pope.

2. Naturally adapted; suited to the disposition. "Congenial clime." C. J. Fox.

To defame the excellence with which it has no sympathy . . . is its congenial work. I. Taylor.

CONGENIALITY Con*ge`ni*al"i*ty ( or ; 106), n.

Defn: The state or quality of being congenial; natural affinity; adaptation; suitableness. Sir J. Reynolds.

If congeniality of tastes could have made a marriage happy, that union should have been thrice blessed. Motley.

CONGENIALIZE Con*gen"ial*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make congenial. [R.]

CONGENIALLY Con*gen"ial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a congenial manner; as, congenially married or employed.

CONGENIALNESS Con*gen"ial*ness, n.

Defn: Congeniality.

CONGENIOUS Con*gen"ious, a.

Defn: Congeneric. [Obs.]

CONGENITAL Con*gen"i*tal, a. Etym: [From Congenite.]

Defn: Existing at, or dating from, birth; pertaining to one from birth; born with one; connate; constitutinal; natural; as, a congenital deformity. See Connate.

CONGENITALLY Con*gen"i*tal*ly, dv.

Defn: In a congenital manner.

CONGENITE Con*gen"ite, a. Etym: [L. congenitus; con- + genitus, p.p. of gignere to beget. See Generate.]

Defn: Congenital; connate; inborn. See Congenital. [Obs.] Many conclusions, of moral and intellectual truths, seem . . . to be congenite with us. Sir M. Hale.

CONGER Con"ger, n. Etym: [L. conger, congrus, akin to Gr. congre.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The conger eel; -- called also congeree. Conger sea (Zoöl.), the sea eel; a large species of eel (Conger vulgaris), which sometimes grows to the length of ten feet.

CONGERIES Con*ge"ri*es, n. sing & pl. Etym: [L., fr. congerere. See Congest.]

Defn: A collection of particles or bodies into one mass; a heap; an aggregation.

CONGEST Con*gest", v. t. Etym: [L. congestus, p. p. of congere to bring together; con- + gerere. See Gerund.]

1. To collect or gather into a mass or aggregate; to bring together; to accumulate. To what will thy congested guilt amount Blackmore.

2. (Med.)

Defn: To cause an overfullness of the blood vessels (esp. the capillaries) of an organ or part.

CONGESTED Con*gest"ed, a.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Crowded together. Gray.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Containing an unnatural accumulation of blood; hyperæmic; -- said of any part of the body.

CONGESTION Con*ges"tion, n. Etym: [L. congestio: cf. F. congestion.]

1. The act of gathering into a heap or mass; accumulation. [Obs.] The congestion of dead bodies one upon another. Evelyn.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Overfullness of the capillary and other blood vessels, etc., in any locality or organ (often producing other morbid symptoms); local hyperas, arterial congestion; venous congestion; congestion of the lungs.

CONGESTIVE Con*gest"ive, a. (Med.)

Defn: Pertaining to, indicating, or attended with, congestion in some part of the body; as, a congestive fever.

CONGIARY Con"gi*a*ry, n.; pl. Congiaries. Etym: [L. congiarium, fr. congius a liquid measure.]

Defn: A present, as of corn, wine, or oil, made by a Roman emperor to the soldiers or the people; -- so called because measured to each in a congius. Addison.

Note: In later years, when gifts of money were distributed, the name congius was retained.

CONGIUS Con"gi*us, n. Etym: [L.]

1. (Roman Antiq.)

Defn: A liquid measure containing about three quarts.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A gallon, or four quarts. [Often abbreviated to cong.]

CONGLACIATE Con*gla"ci*ate (; 221), v. t. & i. Etym: [L. conglaciatus, p.p. of conglaciare. See Glaciate.]

Defn: To turn to ice; to freeze. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CONGLACIATION Con*gla`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conglaciation.]

Defn: The act or process of changing into ice, or the state of being converted to ice; a freezing; congelation; also, a frost. Bacon.

CONGLOBATE Con*glo"bate, a. Etym: [L. conglobatus, p.p. of conglobare to conglobate. See Globate.]

Defn: Collected into, or forming, a rounded mass or ball; as, the conglobate [lymphatic] glands; conglobate flowers.

CONGLOBATE Con*glo"bate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglobated; p.pr. & vb.n. Conglobating.] Etym: [Cf. Conglore.]

Defn: To collect or form into a ball or rounded mass; to gather or mass together. Conglobated bubbles undissolved. Wordsworth.

CONGLOBATION Con`glo*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglobatio: cf. F. conglobation.]

1. The act or process of forming into a ball. Sir T. Browne.

2. A round body.

CONGLOBE Con*globe", v. t. [imp & p. p. Conglobed; p. pr. & vb. n. Conglobing.] Etym: [L. conglobare: cf. F. conglober. Cf. Conglobate.]

Defn: To gather into a ball; to collect into a round mass. Then founded, then conglobed Like things to like. Milton.

CONGLOBE Con*globe", v. i.

Defn: To collect, unite, or coalesce in a round mass. Milton.

CONGLOBULATE Con*glob"u*late, v. i. Etym: [Pref. con- + globule.]

Defn: To gather into a small round mass.

CONGLOMERATE Con*glom"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. conglomeratus, p.p. of conglomerare to roll together; con- + glomerare to wind into a ball. See Glomerate.]

1. Gathered into a ball or a mass; collected together; concentrated; as, conglomerate rays of light. Beams of light when they are multiplied and conglomerate. Bacon. Fluids are separated in the liver and the other conglobate and conglomerate glands. Cheyne.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Closely crowded together; densly clustered; as, conglomerate flowers. Gray.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: Composed of stones, pebbles, or fragments of rocks, cemented together.

CONGLOMERATE Con*glom"er*ate, n.

1. That which is heaped together in a mass or conpacted from various sources; a mass formed of fragments; collection; accumulation. A conglomerate of marvelous anecdotes, marvelously heaped together. Trench.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: A rock, composed or rounded fragments of stone cemented together by another mineral substance, either calcareous, siliceous, or argillaceous; pudding stone; -- opposed to agglomerate. See Breccia. A conglomerate, therefore, is simply gravel bound together by a cement. Lyell.

CONGLOMERATE Con*glom"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglomerated; p.pr. & vb.n. Conglomerating.]

Defn: To gather into a ball or round body; to collect into a mass.

CONGLOMERATION Con*glom`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglomeratio: cf. F. conglomeration.]

Defn: The act or process of gathering into a mass; the state of being thus collected; collection; accumulation; that which is conglomerated; a mixed mass. Bacon.

CONGLUTIN Con*glu"tin, n. Etym: [From Conglutinate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A variety of vegetable casein, resembling legumin, and found in almonds, rye, wheat, etc.

CONGLUTINANT Con*glu"ti*nant, a. Etym: [L., conglutinans, p.pr.]

Defn: Cementing together; uniting closely; causing to adhere; promoting healing, as of a wound or a broken bone, by adhesion of the parts.

CONGLUTINATE Con*glu"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. conglutinatus, p.p. of conglutinare to glue; con- + glutinare to glue, gluten glue.]

Defn: Glued together; united, as by some adhesive substance.

CONGLUTINATE Con*glu"ti*nate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglutinated; p.pr. & vb.n. Conglutinating.]

Defn: To glue together; to unite by some glutinous or tenacious substance; to cause to adhere or to grow together. Bones . . . have had their broken parts conglutinated within three or four days. Boyle.

CONGLUTINATE Con*glu"ti*nate, v. i.

Defn: To unite by the intervention of some glutinous substance; to coalesce.

CONGLUTINATION Con*glu`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglutinatio: cf. F. conglutination.]

Defn: A gluing together; a joining by means of some tenacious substance; junction; union. Conglutination of parts separated by a wound. Arbuthnot.

CONGLUTINATIVE Con*glu"ti*na"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conglutinatif.]

Defn: Conglutinant.

CONGO; CONGOU Con"go, Con"gou, n. Etym: [Chin. kung-foo labor.]

Defn: Black tea, of higher grade (finer leaf and less dusty) than the present bohea. See Tea. Of black teas, the great mass is called Congou, or the "well worked", a name which took the place of the Bohea of 150 years ago, and is now itself giving way to the term "English breakfast tea." S. W. Williams.

CONGO GROUP Con"go group. [From Congo red.]

Defn: A group of artificial dyes with an affinity for vegetable fibers, so that no mordant is required. Most of them are azo compounds derived from benzidine or tolidine. Called also benzidine dyes.

CONGO RED Congo red. (Chem.)

Defn: An artificial red dye from which the Congo group received its name. It is also widely used either in aqueous solution or as test paper (Congo paper) for the detection of free acid, which turns it blue.

CONGO SNAKE Con"go snake". (Zoöl.)

Defn: An amphibian (Amphiuma means) of the order Urodela, found in the southern United States. See Amphiuma.

CONGRATULANT Con*grat"u*lant, a. Etym: [L. congratulans, p. pr.]

Defn: Rejoicing together; congratulatory. With like joy Congratulant approached him. Milton.

CONGRATULATE Con*grat"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Congratulated; p.pr. & vb.n. Congratulating.] Etym: [L. congratulatus, p.p. of congratulari to wish joy abundantly; con- + gratulari to wish joy, from gratus pleasing. See Grateful.]

Defn: To address with expressions of sympathetic pleasure on account of some happy event affecting the person addressed; to wish joy to. It is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate the princess at her pavilion. Shak. To congratulate one's self, to rejoice; to feel satisfaction; to consider one's self happy or fortunate.

Syn. -- To Congratulate, Felicitate. To felicitate is simply to wish a person joy. To congratulate has the additional signification of uniting in the joy of him whom we congratulate. Hence they are by no means synonymous. One who has lost the object of his affections by her marriage to a rival, might perhaps felicitate that rival on his success, but could never be expected to congratulate him on such an event. Felicitations are little better than compliments; congratulations are the expression of a genuine sympathy and joy. Trench.