con·fed·er·ate • adj. / kənˈfedərət/ joined by an agreement or treaty: some local groups united to form confederate councils. ∎  (Confederate) of or relating to the Confederate States of America: the Confederate flag.• n. / kənˈfedərət/ 1. a person one works with, esp. in something secret or illegal; an accomplice.2. (Confederate) a supporter of the Confederate States of America.• v. / -ˌrāt/ [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (confederated) bring (states or groups of people) into an alliance: Switzerland is a model for the new confederated Europe.

confederate leagued, allied XIV; sb. accomplice XV; ally XVI. — late (eccl.) L. confœderātus; see CON-, FEDERATE.
So confederation league, alliance, †conspiracy XV; body of states leagued together XVII. —(O)F. or late L. confederacy (in same senses) XIV. — AN. confederacie.