federation English · revision 6678

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1721|origins=la foedus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌfɛdəˈɹeɪ̯ʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|fédération]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-lat|foederātio]], a noun of action from [[m|la|foedero|alt=foederāre|t=to league together]], from [[m|la|foedus|t=covenant, league]] (see [[federal]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from PIE [[ine-pro|*bʰeydʰ-|t=to trust, persuade]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A union by agreement: 1721 in Etymonline, 1721–1800 in the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) MWU has 1787.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A society or league formed for joint action, now chiefly a political union of states under a central government, is from 1791.^(OED 1989) ''Imperial Federation'' was a proposed reorganization of the British Empire (1885).^(OED 1989) ''Federationist'' is from 1865.^(OED 1989) In Australia ''Federation'' is the union of the colonies in 1901 and a style of architecture of that period.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1721 – a union by agreement.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1791 – a league or political union.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1865 – federationist.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A union of states or provinces under a central [[government]], each keeping some powers of its own.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A league or association of societies, clubs or unions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of federating.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Russian Federation]]

+ * [[West Indies Federation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[confederate]]

+ * [[Confederation]]

+ * [[federal]]

+ * [[federate]]

+ * [[federative]]

+ * [[confederacy]]

+ * [[faith]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}