verb
confer
Officially grant something to someone.
The university confers degrees on its graduates at commencement.
Etymology
The Latin verb includes bringing together and bestowing. The granting sense preserves the transfer of something, such as an honor or authority, to its recipient.
More examples
- The mayor conferred the city's highest honor on the firefighter.
- This appointment confers new authority on the director.
- The judge is conferring citizenship on twenty new Americans.
Forms
confer · confers · conferred · conferring
conferral noun — The formal granting of honors or rights.