The Collaborative International Dictionary
Federal \Fed"er*al\, a. [L. foedus league, treaty, compact; akin to fides faith: cf. F. f['e]d['e]ral. see Faith.]
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Pertaining to a league or treaty; derived from an agreement or covenant between parties, especially between nations; constituted by a compact between parties, usually governments or their representatives.
The Romans compelled them, contrary to all federal right, . . . to part with Sardinia.
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Specifically:
Composed of states or districts which retain only a subordinate and limited sovereignty, as the Union of the United States, or the Sonderbund of Switzerland.
Consisting or pertaining to such a government; as, the Federal Constitution; a Federal officer.
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Friendly or devoted to such a government; as, the Federal party. see Federalist.
Federal Congress. See under Congress.
Usage examples of "federal congress".
But Rhoodie had also spoken of Lincoln treating the Confederate States as conquered provinces after their defeat, and that proved nothing but a lie: even with the war all but won, Lincoln had tried to get the Federal Congress to compensate Southern slaveholders for the animate property they were losing.
General Crittenden's father was a member of the Federal Congress at Washington, and one of his brothers was a general also, but on the other side.