conferre

Conferre is a Latin transitive verb formed from the prefix con- added to ferre (to bear, to carry). It conveys the sense of bringing something together or towards a point, and it has developed a range of figurative uses such as comparing items, reporting materials, contributing, or awarding. The verb is irregular as a compound of ferre and has the standard ferre-type principal parts: confero, conferre, contuli, collatus.

The primary meanings of conferre include bringing together or assembling (physical objects, ideas, or evidence), and moving something toward a goal or destination. It is also used in the sense of comparing two or more things or opinions, and in contexts where something is contributed or bestowed, such as arms, honors, or benefits. In rhetoric, law, and literary prose, the sense of bringing various elements into a single point or summation is common.

In classical Latin, conferre occurs with a variety of objects and constructions reflecting its broad range of meanings. Its principal parts—confero, conferre, contuli, collatus—are used in both active and passive or deponent-like contexts, and the verb can be combined with other prepositions or cases to indicate direction, purpose, or recipient.

See also: ferre (to bear), referre (to bring back), efferre (to carry out or bring forth). Conferre remains a flexible and frequently encountered term in Latin literature, valued for its ability to express movement toward a result, gathering of material, or award of favors.