Etymology

confer

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Today it means: To grant as a possession; to bestow. Full definition →

First used 16th c.Middle French conférer ← Old French conferer ← Latin cōnferō
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromcōnferō
  2. Old French · derived fromconferer
  3. Middle French · derived fromconférer
  4. English todayconfer

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.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. To grant as a possession; to bestow.
  • from 16th c. To talk together, to consult, discuss; to collogue.
  • 16th–18th c. To compare.
  • 16th–17th c. To bring together; to collect, gather.
  • 16th–18th c. To contribute; to conduce.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.