conflagrate 
sume. < com-, together, + flat/rare, burn : see 
flat trait t.~\ To burn up ; consume with fire. 
Popularity is as a blaze of illumination, or, alas ! of con- 
flagration kindled round a man, . . . eoiiflagratintittw poor 
man himself into ashes and caput mortuum. 
(.'arlillf, Misc., IV. 144. 
conflagration (kon-fla-gra'shon), n. [= F. con- 
flniiraiinn = Sp. confloffra^on = Pg. wnflagra- 
yoo = It. conflagraaione, < L. coflagratio(ii-), < 
conflagrare, pp. conflagratus, burn up: see con- 
H/i/jrate.] A burning; a fire; especially, the 
burning of any large mass of combustibles: as, 
the conflagration of a city or of a forest; the 
final conflagration of the world. 
The conflagration of all things under Phaeton. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err. 
Floods and conflagration*. Bentley, Sermons. 
conflate (kon-flaf), ' *; P ret - and PP- eon - 
flated, ppr!' conflating. [< L. conflatus, pp. of 
eonflare, blow together, < com-, together, + 
flare = E. Motel. Cf. inflate.] 1. To blow to- 
gether; bring together as if by convergent 
winds. [Rare.] 
The States-General, created and conflated by the pas- 
sionate effort of the whole nation, is there as a thing high 
and lifted up. Carlyle, French Rev., I. v. 1. 
2. In diplomatics, to form by inadvertent com- 
bination of two readings of the same words. 
See conflation, 3. 
conflatet (kon-flaf), [= It. conflato, < L. 
conflatus, pp.' : see the verb.] Blown together ; 
wafted together from several sources ; hetero- 
geneous. Mir. for Mags. 
conflated (kon-fla'ted), p. a. [Pp. of conflate, v.] 
Marked by conflation or conflations. See con- 
flation, 3. 
Whence did the separate members of the conflated text 
arise, since both of them by hypothesis cannot be original ? 
Amei: Jour. Philol., VI. 35. 
conflation (kon-fla'shpn), n. [= Sp. conflacion, 
< LL. conflatio(n-), < "L. eonflare, pp. conflatus, 
blowtogether: see conflate, v.] 1. The blowing 
of two or more musical instruments together. 
The sweetest and best harmony is, when every part or 
instrument is not heard by itself, but a conflation of them 
all. Bacon, Nat. Hist., 225. 
2. A melting or casting of metal. Johnson. 
[Rare in senses 1 and 2.] 3. In diplomatics: 
(a) An inadvertent combination of two read- 
ings of the same passage, so as to produce a 
new reading different from either. 
Suppose that a given line of a copy has been affected by 
some scribe's stupidity, so as materially to change the 
sense without affecting the length (as by the substitution 
of two or three letters from a wrong line), and that by the 
subsequent correction of the passage two readings have 
been placed in close relation, it frequently happens that 
the real line and the erroneous line which iseqnal in length 
to it both combine to form a new reading, which has thus 
increased the text by one of its own lines. This phenome- 
non is known by the name of conflation. It is well known 
that the most powerful part of Dr. Hort's great Introduc- 
tion to the New Testament consists in the exposition of 
eight cases of conflation in the early texts of Mark and 
Luke. Amer. Jour. Philol., VI. 33. 
(b) A reading which has thus originated, 
connect (kon'flekt), n. [Irreg. < L. con-, toge- 
ther, + flectere, turn, bend: see flex.] In en- 
tom., crowded; clustered thickly together: as, 
conflect hairs or punctures : opposed to sparse. 
conflexuret (kon-flek'sur), . [< L. conflexus, 
pp., bowed, bent ; after flexure, q. v.] A bend- 
ing together ; flexure. Bailey. 
conflict (kpn-flikf), v. i. [< L. conflictare, freq. 
of confligere, pp. conflictus, strike together, con- 
tend, fight, < com-, together, + fligere, strike. 
See conflict, n., and cf. afflict, inflict.'] 1. To 
strike or dash together; meet in opposition; 
come together violently. 
Bare unhoused trunks, 
To the conflicting elements expos'd. 
Shak., T. of A., iv. 3. 
1186 
t/is, a striking together, LL. a fight, contest, < 
confligere, pp. conflictus, strike together, con- 
ten'd/flght: see conflict, v.] 1. A struggle for 
mastery ; a striving to oppose or overcome ; 
a battle or combat; contention; controversy; 
strife. 
The luckU-ssi; roullict with the Gyaunt stout. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. vii. 26. 
Ill our last conflict four of his five wits went halting off. 
Shak., Much Ado, i. 1. 
They closed 
In 'ontlift with the crash of shivering points. 
Tennyson, Princess, v. 
2. Discord of action, feeling, or effect ; antago- 
nism, as of interests or principles; counterac- 
tion, as of causes, laws, or agencies of any kind ; 
opposing action or tendency; opposition; col- 
lision: as, a conflict of the elements, or be- 
tween right and wrong. 
I must confess that I was in great Conflicts of Mind at 
this time. Dumpier, Voyages, I. 496. 
conform 
It was under the pretence of rope-dancing that he filled 
the Red-bull playhouse, which was a lar^c one, \vith such 
a '''influence that as many went back for want of room as 
entered. /. 1) 'Ixnifli, Curios, of Lit., III. 18. 
3. In pliilol., the tending toward accordance, 
or the becoming similar or accordant in form : 
said of words. Skeat. 
confluent (kon'flo-ent), a. and . [= P. con- 
fluent = Sp. Pg. It. confluente, < L. confluen(t-)s, 
flowing together, as a noun often in pi. con- 
fluentes, the confluence of two streams, ppr. of 
confluere (> Sp. Pg. confluir = F. confluer), flow 
together, < con-, together, + flucre, flow : see 
fluent.] I. a. 1. Flowing together; meeting in 
their course, as two streams. 
And the whole ocean's confluent waters swell 
Only to quench his thirst, or move and blanch his shell. 
Prior. 
These confluent streams make some great river's head. 
>SYr n. Illafkiiiore, Creation, i. 
2. In anat., having grown or become blended 
together, as two bones whicli were originally 
Temple . . . was engaged in the conflicts of active life, separate. 3. In l>ot. and eoiil., blended into 
Macaulay, Sir William Temple. one . ag) confluent leaves. 4. In patliol. : () 
The more complicated operations of the will, as in ad- Running together: as, confluent pustules, (b) 
Characterized by confluent pustules: as, con- 
fluent smallpox. 5f. Rich; affluent. Nares. 
Th' inhabitants in flocks and herds are wondrous confluent. 
Ctntjtinan, Iliad, ix. 57. 
Confluent colors, colors which gradually pass into one 
another without any marked division. Confluent im- 
pressions, punctures, spots, striae, etc., in zoiil., those 
impressions, etc., so close together that they run into one 
another irregularly. Confluent veins, veins in the wings 
of insects, united at the ends. 
II. n. 1. A tributary stream : as, the Mohawk 
is a confluent of the Hudson. 2f. A joining or 
confluence, as of two streams. 
The confluent where both streams meet together. 
Holla ml, tr. of Livy, p. 21. 
A little beyond the townes end, the River Arar and the 
Rhodanus doe make a confluent. Coryat, Crudities, 1. 62. 
justing many opposite interests, bring in the element of 
conflict, which is always painful and wasting. 
Bam, Corr. of Forces. 
Conflict of laws, the opposition between the laws of dif- 
ferent jurisdictions when each is sought to be applied in 
preference to the other, upon a controversy on facts occur- 
ring wholly or in part without the jurisdiction in which 
redress is sought. Irrepressible conflict, a political 
phrase much used in the United States during the agita- 
tion about slavery, to designate the antagonism between 
freedom and slavery. It was first used by William H. 
Seward in a speech in 1858 at Rochester, New York, in 
which he said : " It is an irrepressible conflict between op- 
posing and enduring forces, and it means that the United 
States must and will, sooner or later, become entirely 
a slaveholding nation or entirely a free-labor nation." 
= Syn. 1. Engagement, Combat, etc. (see battled), war, 
fray. 
conflicting (kon-flik'ting), p. a. [Ppr. of conflict, v ._ _._., 
v.] Of opposite or opposing character, ten- con fl uen tly (kon'flB-ent-li), adv. In a conflu- 
dency, function, interest, etc. ; mutually con- eut majm r . so that foe different parts run into 
tradictory or incompatible ; contrary ; also, one another irregularly : as, confluently punc- 
composed of antagonistic or opposing elements ; j a(;e or ,j o tt; e( j 
involving antagonism: as, conflicting jurisdic- conflux (kon'fluks), . [< L. "confluxus, n. (cf. 
tion; the evidence was very conflicting. flux) < conflwKtls pp . of confluere, flow toge- 
confliction (kon-flik'shon), n. [< L. confltc- see confluent.] 1. A flowing together; a 
meeting of two or more currents; confluence. 
As knots, by the conflux of meeting sap, 
Infect the sound pine, and divert his grain 
Tortive and errant from his course of growth. 
Shak., T. and (!., i. 3. 
I walked till I came to the conflux of two . . . rivulets. 
Cook, Voyages, VII. v. 1. 
In the centre of immensities, in the conflux of eternities. 
Carlyle, Sartor Resartns. 
2. A throng; a crowd; a multitude collected. 
To the gates cast round thine eye, and see 
What conflux issuing forth, or entering in. 
Milton, P. R., iv. 62. 
confluxibilityt (kon-fluk-si-biri-ti), n. [< con- 
flwxible: see -bility.] The tendency of fluids to 
tio(n-), < confligere, pp. conflictus, strike to- 
gether: see conflict, v.] The act of conflicting 
or clashing ; the state of being in conflict ; want 
of harmony. [Rare.] 
Tliis question is, however, one of complicated difficul- 
ties, from the confliction, in every form and degree, of 
public expediency and private rights. Sir 1C. Hamilton. 
conflictive (kpn-flik'tiv), a. [< conflict + -ire.] 
Tending to conflict; conflicting; clashing. 
Conflictim systems of theology. Sir W. Hamilton. 
Conflictive propositions, in logic, propositions which 
* . be true of the same state of things. Con- 
jannot both be true of the same state of thing! 
flictive terms, in logic, such terms as cannot be united 
in one subject. 
COnflowt (kon-flo'), v. i. [< con- + flow, after 
L. confluere" flow together : see confluent.] To run together, 
flow together; converge; unite. 
The stream was big by occasion of brookes conflou-ing 
thither on every side. Holland, tr. of Ammianus, p. 221. conflllXible (kon-fluk'si-bl), a. [< ~L.*COIifluxus, 
confluctiont, [< L- as if "confluxio(n-), < pp. of confluere (see confluent), + -ible.] In- 
confluere, pp. "confluxus, flow together: see clined to flow or run together. 
confluent, a.] A flowing together; a meeting confluxiblenesst (kon-fluk'si-bl-nes), n. Same 
or confluence. as confluxiUlity. 
confocal (kon-fo'kal), a. 
+ focus (in mod. 
sense: see focus) + 
-al.] In math., hav- 
ing the same focus: 
as, confocal quadrics ; 
It doth draw 
All his effects, his spirits, and his powers, 
In their confluctions, all to run one way. 
B. Jonson, Ind. to Every Man out of his Humour. 
The gravity and conflttxibiltty of the liquors. 
Boyle, Free Enquiry, p. 301. 
[< L. com-, together, 
Lash'd into foam, the fierce conflicting brine 
Seems o'er a thousand raging waves to burn. 
Thomson, Winter, 1. 159. 
2. To contend; fight; strive; struggle. 
A man would tie content to strive with himself, and 
conflict with great difficulties, in hopes of a mighty reward. 
Abp. Tillotson. 
Its [architecture's] main problems are how most fitly to 
enclose a space with solid structures, and to conflict most 
successfully with the force of gravity. 
Mivart, Nature and Thought, p. 8. 
3. To be in opposition ; be contrary or at vari- 
ance : as, the evidence given by the second wit- 
ness conflicted with that given by the first. 
The conflicting ingredients, like an acid and an alkali 
mixed, neutralise each other. Macaulay, Milton. 
conflict (kon'flikt), . [= F. conflict, now con- 
flit = Sp. Pg. conflicto = It. conflitto = D. kon- 
flikt = G. conflict = Dan. konflikt, < L. conflic- 
COnfluctuatet (kqn-fluk'tu-at), i'. i. [< L. con- 
fluctiuttus, pp. of confluctuare, < com-, together, 
+ fluctuare, flow : see fluctuate.] To flow to- 
gether. Ash. 
confluence (kon'flo- ens), n. [= F. confluence o _ 
= Sp. Pg. Confluencia = It. confluenza, < LL. of equal masses produce 
con/ZeMf'a,aflowingtogether,<L. confluen(t-)s, equal attraction through 
pp/ of confluere, flofw together : see confluent.] * T t S%ft*j& 
1. A flowing together; specifically, the meet- [Phil, 494. 
confocal comes. 
Any two cow/ocal homo- 
geneous solid ellipsoids 
Confocal Conies. 
f and f" are the foci. The ec- 
centricities, beginning with the in- 
. ; , , ,*- J ~g f i cemncmes, uc^iniiiii^ witn ta 
ing or junction of two or more streams of water pnT1 f ftrai n Anna + Ckoii ner hyperbola and ending with the 
or other fluids ; also, the place of meeting: as, T-r" ' nT-us) a. [< i"Ti "fi" H \ "*' "' '*' '*' 
thA jvMiilwHuM nf MIA Omr> ami the MissiRRinm : T'T . . -..V ._ ; -r *' 38) 8t *' 3 *' ' 
the confluence of the Ohio and the Mississippi : 
often used figuratively. 
The confluence ... of all true joys. Boyle. 
LL: conforaneus, < L. 
com-, together, + forum, market-place : see 
forum and -anemis.~\ Of the same court or mar- 
The Junction of an affluent with the main stream is ket-place. Coles, 1717. 
termed the confluence, or place where they "flow toge- conform (kon-form'), a. [= F. Sp. Pg. It. COn- 
ther." Huxley, Physiography, p. 4. f or me, < L'L. confurmis, similar, like, < L. 
2. A running together of people ; an assem- com-, together, + forma, form.] Conformable. 
blage ; a throng ; a concourse. 
You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. 
Shale., T. of A., i. 1. 
The confluence of the people and multitude of coaches 
passing every moment over the bridge to a new spectator 
is an agreeable diversion. Evelyn, Diary, Dec. 24, 1643. 
[Rare.] 
Care must be taken that the interpretation given be 
every way conform to the analogy of faith, and fully ac 
cordanttootherscriptures. Sp. Hall, Cases of Conscience. 
Conform map-projection, a projection which preserves 
the true value of afl angles of intersecting lines, or the 
