confederate
confederate — 形容詞
1. joined together with others in a formal league or alliance, especially of states
同盟的
結成正式聯盟或同盟的
joined together with others in a formal league or alliance, especially of states, tribes, or groups pursuing a shared goal.
The confederate tribes of the northern plains signed a deal to protect their shared hunting grounds.
北方平原的同盟部落簽署了一項協議，以保護他們共享的狩獵場。
confederate + noun for a group entity (tribes, states, nations)
Gabriel addressed the confederate council, asking each member to contribute soldiers for the coming war.
Gabriel 在同盟議會上發言，要求每個成員為即將到來的戰爭貢獻士兵。
The confederate nations agreed to open their borders for free trade among members.
這些同盟國家同意開放邊境，讓成員之間進行自由貿易。
A map from 1720 shows the confederate territories marked in a single colour.
一張1720年的地圖上用單一顏色標示了同盟領土。
- independent
not joined with others in a league
- separate
acting alone, not part of a confederacy
文法句型
confederate + noun (group/organization)
用法筆記
Typically used before a noun that names a political body, tribe, or region. Not used for informal or temporary partnerships.
常見錯誤
2. relating to the eleven southern states that left the United States in 1860–1861
邦聯的
美國內戰時期南方邦聯的
relating to the eleven southern states that left the United States in 1860–1861 and fought the Union until 1865.
The museum display shows a Confederate officer's sword and letters from the 1863 campaign.
博物館展示了一位邦聯軍官的佩劍以及1863年戰役期間的信件。
Confederate (capitalised) for the American Civil War context
Historians still argue about the economic factors behind the Confederate decision to leave the Union.
歷史學家至今仍在爭論邦聯決定脫離聯邦背後的經濟因素。
Vivek found a diary kept by a Confederate soldier describing the harsh winter near Richmond.
Vivek 找到了一本邦聯士兵的日記，描述在里奇蒙附近度過的嚴冬。
The documentary focuses on the daily struggles inside Confederate camps during the war.
這部紀錄片聚焦於戰爭期間邦聯營地內的日常困境。
- Southern (historical)
used as a synonym in US historical writing, though less precise
- secessionist
highlights the act of leaving the Union; more political in tone
- Union
referring to the northern states that fought against the Confederacy
文法句型
Confederate + noun (military, political)
用法筆記
Always capitalised when referring to the historical American Confederacy. This sense appears most often in history textbooks, museum labels, and Civil War literature.
常見錯誤
confederate — 名詞
1. a person who works secretly with someone else to carry out a plan, often one tha
共犯；同夥
共同參與秘密或非法計畫的人
a person who works secretly with someone else to carry out a plan, often one that involves dishonesty, crime, or political scheming.
The security guard acted as the thief's confederate, turning off the cameras before the robbery.
那名警衛充當小偷的同夥，在搶劫前關掉了監視器。
possessive: someone's confederate (the person working with them)
Police arrested Stephanie and her confederate as they tried to leave the jewellery store.
警方在 Stephanie 和她的共犯試圖逃離珠寶店時逮捕了他們。
Karim refused to name his confederates, even when the judge pressed him for answers.
Karim 拒絕供出他的同夥，即使法官逼問他也不說。
Without a confederate inside the embassy, the escape plan could never have worked.
如果大使館內部沒有內應，這個逃亡計畫根本不可能成功。
- accomplice
the standard legal term; stronger implication of criminal guilt than 'confederate'
- conspirator
specifically someone involved in planning, not just helping; more dramatic
- ally
broader and more positive; lacks the secretive or criminal nuance
- partner in crime
informal and humorous; not used in serious or legal contexts
文法句型
someone's confederate
confederate in [something]
用法筆記
Stronger than 'ally' because it implies secrecy and often wrongdoing. Weaker than 'accomplice' in legal tone — 'accomplice' is the standard legal term for someone guilty in a crime, while 'confederate' is more literary.
常見錯誤
2. a soldier or supporter of the eleven southern states that seceded from the Unite
邦聯士兵
美國內戰中支持南方邦聯的人
a soldier or supporter of the eleven southern states that seceded from the United States and were defeated in 1865.
The cemetery contains the graves of both Union soldiers and Confederates who died in that battle.
這座墓園裡安葬著在那場戰役中陣亡的聯邦士兵和邦聯士兵。
the Confederates (plural countable, capitalised) to mean Confederate soldiers
After the surrender, many Confederates returned to farms that now lay in ruins.
投降之後，許多邦聯士兵回到已成廢墟的農場。
Asher found a photograph of a young Confederate standing next to a cannon.
Asher 找到了一張年輕邦聯士兵站在大炮旁的照片。
The old letter describes how a Confederate wrote home begging for food and warm clothing.
那封老信描寫了一名邦聯士兵寫信回家懇求食物和保暖衣物的情景。
- Rebel (historical nickname)
informal term used by Union soldiers and in popular culture; less formal than 'Confederate'
- Southern soldier
descriptive but less specific; avoids the political charge of 'Confederate'
- Union soldier
a soldier who fought for the northern states
- Yankee
historical informal term for a Union soldier
文法句型
the Confederates (plural, as group noun)
用法筆記
In modern writing, capitalised as 'Confederate' to distinguish this historical meaning from the general 'confederate' (accomplice). The plural 'the Confederates' is often used to refer collectively to the army or its supporters.
常見錯誤
confederate — 動詞
1. to join together as independent states or political groups so that they operate
結盟
國家或政治團體組成聯盟
to join together as independent states or political groups so that they operate under a single shared government or treaty while keeping their own local control.
The three small kingdoms decided to confederate so they could defend themselves against invaders.
三個小王國決定結盟，這樣它們就能共同抵禦侵略者。
confederate + infinitive of purpose (so that / to)
Two provinces voted to confederate under a new constitution last November.
去年十一月，兩個省份投票決定根據新憲法結盟。
The island nations confederated with their neighbours to build a shared system of sea defences.
這些島國與鄰國結盟，共同建立了一套海上防禦系統。
Before they could confederate, each territory had to approve the treaty in a public vote.
在他們結盟之前，每個領土都必須透過公開投票批准這項條約。
- unite
much more common; can be used for any kind of joining, not just political
- form a confederation
a longer phrase that makes the meaning clearer to most readers
- ally
implies cooperation without the formal structure of a confederacy
文法句型
confederate (with [someone])
confederate + infinitive of purpose
用法筆記
Almost entirely used in discussions of political history or international relations. In everyday English, 'unite', 'join', or 'form an alliance' are far more common.
常見錯誤
2. to unite with other people or groups to work together toward a specific shared a
聯合；結夥
為共同目標而團結合作
to unite with other people or groups to work together toward a specific shared aim, especially one that benefits everyone involved.
Local farmers confederated to buy a shared tractor that none could afford alone.
當地農民聯合起來購買了一台誰也負擔不起的共享拖拉機。
confederated + to-infinitive showing purpose
Neighbourhood groups confederated to demand better street lighting from the city council.
多個社區團體聯合起來，向市議會要求改善路燈照明。
Several small shops confederated to negotiate lower prices for their supplies.
幾家小店聯合起來，為他們的進貨協商更低的價格。
The students confederated to create a free tutoring programme for younger children in the town.
學生們聯合起來，為鎮上較小的孩子創辦了一個免費的課輔計劃。
- band together
the everyday equivalent; much more common and natural
- join forces
common idiom for practical cooperation
- unite
general-purpose; lacks the slightly conspiratorial tone of 'confederate'
- go it alone
idiom meaning to act without help from others
- break away
to separate from a group
文法句型
confederate to [do something]
confederate with [someone]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense verb/1 (POLITICAL UNION): this sense involves people or small groups, not states or nations, and the aim is practical rather than constitutional. Still very formal — 'band together' or 'join forces' is preferable in everyday English.