Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-FED'ER-A-CY, n. [Low L. confœderatio; con and fœderatio, from fœdus, a league. See Federal and Wed.]

1. A league, or covenant; a contract between two or more persons, bodies of men or states, combined in support of each other, in some act or enterprise; mutual engagement; federal compact. The friendships of the world are oft / Confederacies in vice. – Addison. A confederacy of princes to check innovation. – Anon.
2. The persons, states or nations united by a league. Virgil has a whole confederacy against him. – Dryden.
3. In law, a combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act. – Encyc.