An ally or accomplice, especially in wrongdoing; relating to a league or alliance.
From Latin confoederatus 'joined by treaty,' from con- 'together' + foedus 'league, treaty.' Originally neutral, meaning allied by formal agreement, but gained negative connotations through association with the American Confederacy and criminal accomplices.
This word shows how historical events can permanently alter a word's connotations - while 'confederate' originally just meant 'allied,' the American Civil War so strongly associated it with the pro-slavery South that it rarely appears in neutral contexts anymore. Geography and politics can hijack etymology!
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