*confi*

{ 277), n. masc., n. fem. } [ F. confident, confidente, formerly also spelt confidant, confidante. See Confide, and cf. Confident. ] One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of love, are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend. [ 1913 Webster ]

You love me for no other end
Than to become my confidant and friend;
As such I keep no secret from your sight. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Confided; p. pr. & vb. n. Confiding. ] [ L. confidere; con- + fidere to trust. See Faith, and cf. Affiance. ] To put faith (in); to repose confidence; to trust; -- usually followed by in; as, the prince confides in his ministers. [ 1913 Webster ]

By thy command I rise or fall,
In thy protection I confide. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

Judge before friendships, then confide till death. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To intrust; to give in charge; to commit to one's keeping; -- followed by to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Congress may . . . confide to the Circuit jurisdiction of all offenses against the United States. Story. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your wisdom is consumed in confidence;
Do not go forth to-day. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

But confidence then bore thee on secure
Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler; several swindlers often work together to create the illusion of truth; -- also called con game. --
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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am confident that very much be done. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be confident to speak, Northumberland;
We three are but thyself. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. [ 1913 Webster ]

As confident as is the falcon's flight
Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Giving occasion for confidence. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Confidant. South. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. confidentiel. ] 1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Communicated in confidence; secret. “Confidential messages.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the state or attribute of being secret; privacy; as, you must respect the confidentiality of your client's communications. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. discretion in keeping secret information. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In confidence; in reliance on secrecy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With confidence; with strong assurance; positively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being confident. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who confides. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That confides; trustful; unsuspicious. -- Con*fid"ing*ly, adv. -- Con*fid"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. configuratus, p. p. of configurare to form or after; con- + figurare to form, figura form. See Figure. ] To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure; to agree with a pattern. [ 1913 Webster ]

Known by the name of uniformity;
Where pyramids to pyramids relate
And the whole fabric doth configurate. Jordan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. configuratio. ] 1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing; shape; figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the variety of configurations [ of the mouth ] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astrol.) Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Psychol.) an approach to psychology that emphasizes the importance of configurational properties.
Syn. -- Gestalt psychology. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Configured p. pr. & vb. n. Configuring. ] [ L. configurare: cf. F. configurer. See Configurate. ] To arrange or dispose in a certain form, figure, or shape. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being confined, restricted, or limited. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not confinable to any limits. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Confined p. pr. & vb. n. Confining. ] [ F. confiner to border upon, LL. confinare to set bounds to; con- + finis boundary, end. See Final, Finish. ] To restrain within limits; to restrict; to limit; to bound; to shut up; to inclose; to keep close. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now let not nature's hand
Keep the wild flood confined! let order die! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the slavery of rhyme. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be confined, to be in childbed.

Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrain; imprison; immure; inclose; circumscribe; restrict. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous; to touch; -- followed by on or with. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Where your gloomy bounds
Confine with heaven. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bewixt heaven and earth and skies there stands a place.
Confining on all three. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Common boundary; border; limit; -- used chiefly in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Events that came to pass within the confines of Judea. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

And now in little space
The confines met of empyrean heaven,
And of this world. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the confines of the city and the Temple. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Apartment; place of restraint; prison. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Confines, wards, and dungeons. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The extravagant and erring spirit hies
To his confine. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. having movement restricted to within a certain area; -- usually a building. Opposite of unconfined. [ Narrower terms: claustrophobic; close, confining; homebound, housebound, shut-in; in childbed(prenominal); pent, shut up(predicate); snowbound; weather-bound; stormbound, storm-bound ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. deprived of liberty; especially placed under arrest or restraint. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. having movement restricted to within an enclosed outdoor area; -- of animals.
Syn. -- fenced in, penned. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. (Med.) not invading healthy tissue. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

5. held prisoner.
Syn. -- captive, imprisoned, jailed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

6. having movement or progress restricted to a certain area; as, an outbreak of the plague confined to one quarter of the city; wildfires confined to within the canyon. [ PJC ]

a. Without limitation or end; boundless. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Restraint within limits; imprisonment; any restraint of liberty; seclusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mind hates restraint, and is apt to fancy itself under confinement when the sight is pent up. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Restraint within doors by sickness, esp. that caused by childbirth; lying-in. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, limits or restrains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lives on confines, or near the border of a country; a borderer; a near neighbor. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Happy confiners you of other lands,
That shift your soil, and oft 'scape tyrants' hands. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. confinité. ] Community of limits; contiguity. [ R. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Confrmed p. pr. & vb. n. Confirming. ] [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law. Ps. cv. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strengthen in judgment or purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confirmed, then, I resolve
Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

These likelihoods confirm her flight. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than confimed. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Eccl.) To administer the rite of confirmation to. See Confirmation, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be confirmed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Confirmation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. confirmation, L. confirmatio. ] 1. The act of confirming or strengthening; the act of establishing, ratifying, or sanctioning; as, the confirmation of an appointment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their blood is shed
In confirmation of the noblest claim. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which confirms; that which gives new strength or assurance; as to a statement or belief; additional evidence; proof; convincing testimony. [ 1913 Webster ]

Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) A conveyance by which a voidable estate is made sure and not voidable, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. confirmativus: cf. F. confirmatif. ] Tending to confirm or establish. Sherwood.

-- Con*firm"a*tive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. ] One who, or that which, confirms; a confirmer. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving to confirm; corroborative. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fact confirmatory of the conclusion. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to the rite of confirmation. Compton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With confirmation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A fixed state. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. confirmé, p. p. of confirmer. ] (Law) One to whom anything is confirmed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, confirms, establishes, or ratifies; one who corroborates. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a confirming manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. confiscable. ] Capable of being confiscated; liable to forfeiture. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. confiscatus, p. p. of confiscare to confiscate, prop., to lay up in a chest; con- + fiscus basket, purse, treasury. See Fiscal. ] Seized and appropriated by the government to the public use; forfeited. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Confiscated; p. pr. & vb. n. Confiscating. ] To seize as forfeited to the public treasury; to appropriate to the public use. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was judged that he should be banished and his whole estate confiscated and seized. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. taken without permission or consent, especially by or as if by a public authority; as, the confiscated liquor was poured down the drain; teh customs agents confiscated the banned fruits.
Syn. -- appropriated, confiscate, seized, taken over. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. confiscatio. ] The act or process of taking property or condemning it to be taken, as forfeited to the public use. [ 1913 Webster ]

The confiscations following a subdued rebellion. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., a treasurer. ] One who confiscates. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Effecting confiscation; characterized by confiscations. “Confiscatory and exterminatory periods.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Comfit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. confitens, p. pr. ] One who confesses his sins and faults. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., I confess. See Confess. ] (R.C.Ch.) A form of prayer in which public confession of sins is made. [ 1913 Webster ]