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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

League \League\ (l[=e]g), n. [F. ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare
to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. {Ally} a confederate, {Ligature}.]
1. An alliance or combination of two or more nations,
parties, organizations, or persons, for the accomplishment
of a purpose which requires a continued course of action,
as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial,
religious, or political interests, etc.
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And let there be
'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. --Denham.
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2. Specifically: (Sports) An association of sports teams that
establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership
in the league, and organizes matches between the member
teams. In some cases a sports league is called a
{conference}, as in the {National Football Conference}.
[PJC]

Note: A league may be offensive or defensive, or both;
offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking
a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual
defense of each other against an enemy.
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{The Holy League}, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in
1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion
of Protestants from the throne of France.

{Solemn League and Covenant}. See {Covenant},2.

{The land league}, an association, organized in Dublin in
1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its
avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure, fair
rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was
declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions
have failed to suppress it.

Syn: Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition;
combination; compact; cooperation.
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Conference \Con"fer*ence\, n. [F. conf['e]rence. See {Confer}.]
1. The act of comparing two or more things together;
comparison. [Obs.]
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Helps and furtherances which . . . the mutual
conference of all men's collections and observations
may afford. --Hocker.
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2. The act of consulting together formally; serious
conversation or discussion; interchange of views.
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Nor with such free and friendly conference
As he hath used of old. --Shak.
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3. A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange
of opinions.
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4. A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their
committees, to adjust between them.
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5. (Methodist Church) A stated meeting of preachers and
others, invested with authority to take cognizance of
ecclesiastical matters.
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6. A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a
district; the district in which such churches are.
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{Conference meeting}, a meeting for conference. Specifically,
a meeting conducted (usually) by laymen, for conference
and prayer. [U. S.]

{Conference room}, a room for conference and prayer, and for
the pastor's less formal addresses. [U. S.]
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