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or convention; to treat with, respecting peace or commerce; to conduct communications or conferences. He that negotiates between God and man Is God's ambassador. Cowper.

ignity; antiquity of family; distinction by rank, station, or title, whether inherited or conferred. I fell on the same argument of preferring virtue to nobility of blood and titles, in the story of Sigismunda. Dryden.

A special duty, trust, charge, or position, conferred by authority and for a public purpose; a position of trust or authority; as, an executive or judical office; a municipal office.

, presents, with an appropriate address, those persons on whom honorary degrees are to be conferred, and performs other like duties; -- called also public orator.

nation to the ministry. See def. 10 above. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A sacrament for the purpose of conferring a special grace on those ordained. -- In order to, for the purpose of; to the end; as means to. The best knowledge is that which is of greatest use in order to our eternal happiness. Tillotson. -- Minor orders (R. C. C…

The act of setting apart to an office in the Christian ministry; the conferring of holy orders.

Singing birds; a group of the Passeres, having numerous syringeal muscles, conferring musical ability.

In Africa, a parley with the natives; a talk; hence, a public conference and deliberation; a debate. This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers. Carlyle.

ly, to include the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States; as, the Pan-Anglican Conference at Lambeth, in 1888.

Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; hence, an oral conference with an enemy, as with regard to a truce. We yield on parley, but are stormed in vain. Dryden. To beat a parley (Mil.), to beat a drum, or sound a trumpet, as a signal for holding a conference with the enemy.

A parleying; a discussion; a conference. [Obs.] But first they held their parliament. Rom. of R.

Open to public perusal; -- said of a document conferring some right or privilege; as, letters patent. See Letters patent, under 3d Letter.

elopment of the plebeian order; later, one who, by right of birth or by special privilege conferred, belonged to the nobility.

tionate reverence and service shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc. Conferred upon me for the piety Which to my country I was judged to have shown. Milton.

Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers. Howell.

a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer. My last, least offering, I present thee now. Cowper.

To oblige; to confer a favor on. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

To make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow; as, the proprietors promised large tracts of land; the city promised a reward. Promised land. See Land of promise, under Land. -- To promise one's self. (a) To resolve; to determine; to vow. (b) To be assured;…

The primary growth from the spore of a moss, usually consisting of branching confervoid filaments, on any part of which stem and leaf buds may be developed.

To qualify again; to confer capacity on again. Atterbury.