conferi

Conferi is the present passive infinitive of the Latin verb confero. The corresponding active present is conferre, and the principal parts of confero are confero, conferre, contuli, allatum. The form conferi literally means “to be brought together” and is used in contexts where the action described by confero is understood in the passive voice.

Etymology and meaning: The verb confero comes from the combination of the prefix con- (with, together) and fero (to bear, carry). Through this lineage, confero carries senses such as to bring together, to collect, to compare, or to bestow. The passive infinitive conferi therefore conveys the idea of something being brought together or brought to bear, depending on the surrounding construction and sense of the sentence.

Usage: Conferi appears in classical Latin texts as a passive infinitive in dependent clauses and in indirect discourse, often reflecting the broader range of meanings of confero. Because infinitives in Latin are highly context-dependent, conferi can translate as “to be brought together,” “to be compared,” or, in more figurative uses, “to be applied/put to use” as dictated by the governing verb and the surrounding grammar. In practice, readers encounter conferi most often in analytic or scholarly passages that discuss the action or result of bringing things together or of making comparisons.

See also: confero, fero, Latin infinitives, indirect discourse.