late 14c., from Anglo-French confederacie (Old French confederacie), from stem of Latin confoederatio, from confoederare (see confederate). Earliest in reference to leagues of classical Greek states (Aetolian, Achaean, etc.), later of the Netherlands. The word was used of the United States of America under (and in) the Articles of Confederation (1777-1788). In reference to the breakaway Confederate States of America (1861-1865) from 1861.
Confederacy now usually implies a looser or more temporary association than confederation, which is applied to a union of states organized on an intentionally permanent basis. [OED]
实用例句
1. They've entered this new confederacy because the central government's been unable to control the collapsing economy.
由于中央政府无力控制逐渐崩溃的经济，所以他们加入了这个新联盟。来自柯林斯例句
2. This bond of kin represented the real basis of the confederacy.
这种血缘亲属关系是联盟的真实基础。来自辞典例句
3. Does the Confederacy mean nothing to you at all? "
难道南部联盟对你就毫无意义?来自飘（部分）
4. " Don't you go throwing the Confederacy in my face!
" 你犯不着用南部联盟来压我嘛!来自飘（部分）
5. A man who fought for the Confederacy can't be all bad.
