Federal

Main Entry:: fed·er·al
Pronunciation:: \ˈfe-d(ə-)rəl\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Latin foeder-, foedus compact, league; akin to Latin fidere to trust — more at bide
Date:: 1660

1archaic : of or relating to a compact or treaty2 a: formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government b: of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units c: of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent units3capitalized : advocating or friendly to the principle of a federal government with strong centralized powers ; especially : of or relating to the American Federalists4often capitalized : of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government or the Union armies of the United States in the American Civil War5capitalized : being or belonging to a style of architecture and decoration current in the United States following the American Revolution

— fed·er·al·ly

\-d(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb

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