anti-confederal
|an-ti-con-fed-er-al|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.kənˈfɛd.rəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.kənˈfɛd(ə)rəl/
against a confederation
Etymology
'anti-confederal' originates from the Greek prefix 'anti-' and from 'confederal', ultimately from Latin 'foedus' (through Medieval/Old French), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'foedus' meant 'treaty' or 'league'.
'confederal' changed from Latin 'confoederalis' (related to 'confoederare' / 'confoedare') through Old French 'confédéral' and Middle English forms into modern English 'confederal'; the modern prefix 'anti-' (from Greek) was combined with this adjective to form 'anti-confederal' in Modern English.
Initially the elements meant 'against' + 'treaty/league', and the compound has retained the basic sense of 'against a confederation' though its use has been specialized in political contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or group that is opposed to confederation or to a confederal system (usage: 'an anti-confederal' or 'the anti-confederal position').
Many anti-confederals feared that a confederation would leave too much power with local elites.
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Antonyms
Adjective 1
opposed to a confederation or to the principle of confederal organization; against forming or supporting a confederation (a loose union of states or groups).
The party adopted an anti-confederal stance during the talks, arguing for stronger central coordination instead of a loose confederation.
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Last updated: 2025/10/22 11:21