confer

name

1. A surname.

verb

Etymology: From Early Modern English conferre, from Middle French conférer, from Old French conferer, from Latin cōnferō. Compare Dutch confereren, German konferieren, Danish konferere, Swedish konferera. Doublet of collate. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as prelate and prefer among others.

1. To grant as a possession; to bestow.

   “The college has conferred an honorary degree upon the visiting Prime Minister.”

   “Nor shall I count in hainous to enjoy The public marks of honour and reward Conferr'd upon me[…]”

2. To talk together, to consult, discuss; to collogue.

   “They were in a huddle, conferring about something.”

   “Local buttons popped when Henry Kissinger visited Little Rock last month to confer with Fulbright on the Middle East oil talks.”

3. To compare.

   “The Newe Testament ... Conferred diligently with the Greke, and best approued translations.”

   “Confer thine estate with others […]. Be content and rest satisfied, for thou art well in respect to others […].”

4. To bring together; to collect, gather.
5. To contribute; to conduce.

   “The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much confer to the strength of the union.”