Confer

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: con=fer

CIDE DICTIONARY

Confer, v. t. [L. conferre to bring together, contribute, consult; con- + ferre to bear: cf. F. conférer. See 1st Bear.].

•  To bring together for comparison; to compare.  [1913 Webster]

  "If we confer these observations with others of the like nature, we may find cause to rectify the general opinion."  [1913 Webster]
•  To grant as a possession; to bestow.  [1913 Webster]

  "The public marks of honor and reward
  Conferred upon me."  [1913 Webster]
•  To contribute; to conduce.  [1913 Webster]

  "The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much confer to the strength of the union."  [1913 Webster]

Confer, v. i. 

 To have discourse; to consult; to compare views; to deliberate.  [1913 Webster]
"Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered."  [1913 Webster]
"You shall hear us confer of this."

Syn. -- To counsel; advise; discourse; converse.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Confer, v. (conferred, conferring)
1 tr. (often foll. by on, upon) grant or bestow (a title, degree, favour, etc.).
2 intr. (often foll. by with) converse, consult.

Derivative

conferrable adj.

Etymology

L conferre (as com-, ferre bring)

THESAURUS

Confer

abalienate, accord, administer, advise, advise with, advocate, afford, alien, alienate, allot, allow, amortize, argue, assign, award, bargain, barter, bequeath, bestow, bestow on, brief, call in, cede, chaffer, coach, collogue, communicate, compare notes, confab, confabulate, confer with, consign, consult, consult with, converse, convey, counsel, deal, deal out, debate, deed, deed over, deliberate, deliver, demise, devolve upon, direct, discuss, discuss with, dish out, dispense, dole, dole out, donate, enfeoff, exchange, exchange observations, exchange views, extend, fork out, gift, gift with, give, give freely, give out, give title to, grant, guide, hand, hand down, hand on, hand out, hand over, have conversations, heap, help to, hold conference, huddle, impart, instruct, issue, kibitz, lavish, let have, make over, meddle, mete, mete out, negotiate, offer, palaver, parley, pass, pass on, pass over, pour, powwow, prescribe, present, proffer, propose, provide, put heads together, rain, reason with, recommend, refer to, render, sell, serve, settle, settle on, shell out, shower, sign away, sign over, sit down together, sit down with, slip, snow, speak, submit, suggest, surrender, take counsel, take up with, talk, talk over, tender, trade, transfer, transmit, treat, turn over, vouchsafe, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

Confer

Advice

VB advise, counsel, give advice, give counsel, give a piece of advice, suggest, prompt, submonish, recommend, prescribe, advocate, exhort, enjoin, enforce, charge, instruct, call, call upon, dictate, expostulate, admonish, advise with, lay heads together, consult together, compare notes, hold a council, deliberate, be closeted with, confer, consult, refer to, call in, take advice, follow advice, be advised by, have at one's elbow, take one's cue from.

Council

VB assemble, gather together, meet (assemblage), confer, caucus, hold council, huddle.

Giving

VB deliver, hand, pass, put into the hands of, hand over, make over, deliver over, pass over, turn over, assign dower, present, give away, dispense, dispose of, give out, deal out, dole out, mete out, fork out, squeeze out, pay, render, impart, communicate, concede, cede, yield, part with, shed, cast, spend, give, bestow, confer, grant, accord, award, assign, intrust, consign, vest in, make a present, allow, contribute, subscribe, furnish its quota, invest, endow, settle upon, bequeath, leave, devise, furnish, supply, help, administer to, afford, spare, accommodate with, indulge with, favor with, shower down upon, lavish, pour on, thrust upon, tip, bribe, tickle the palm, grease the palm, offer, sacrifice, immolate.