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Convene vs Confer - What's the difference?

convene | confer |

In intransitive terms the difference between convene and confer

is that convene is to come together, as in one body or for a public purpose; to meet; to assemble while confer is to talk together, to consult, discuss; to deliberate.

In transitive terms the difference between convene and confer

is that convene is to summon judicially to meet or appear while confer is to grant as a possession; to bestow.

convene

English

Verb

(conven)
  • To come together; to meet; to unite.
  • * Isaac Newton
    • In short-sighted men the rays converge and convene in the eyes before they come at the bottom.
  • To come together, as in one body or for a public purpose; to meet; to assemble.
  • * Sir R. Baker
    • The Parliament of Scotland now convened .
  • * Thomson
    • Faint, underneath, the household fowls convene .
  • To cause to assemble; to call together; to convoke.
  • To summon judicially to meet or appear.

    • Synonyms

    * to meet * to assemble * to congregate * to collect * to unite * to summon * to convoke

    Derived terms

    * convention * convener, convenor

    confer

    English

    Verb

    (conferr)
  • (obsolete) To compare.
  • * 1557 (book title):
    • The Newe Testament ... Conferred diligently with the Greke, and best approued translations.
  • *, II.3.1.i:
    • Confer thine estate with others […]. Be content and rest satisfied, for thou art well in respect to others […].
  • * Boyle
    • If we confer these observations with others of the like nature, we may find cause to rectify the general opinion.
  • To talk together, to consult, discuss; to deliberate.
  • * 1974 , "A Traveler's Perils", Time , 25 Mar 1974:
    • Local buttons popped when Henry Kissinger visited Little Rock last month to confer with Fulbright on the Middle East oil talks.
  • (obsolete) To bring together; to collect, gather.
  • To grant as a possession; to bestow.
  • * Milton
    • the public marks of honour and reward conferred upon me
  • * 2010 , Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer , 7 Feb 2010:
    • The special immunities that are conferred on MPs were framed with the essential purpose of allowing them to speak freely in parliament.
  • (obsolete) To contribute; to conduce.
  • * Glanvill
    • The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much confer to the strength of the union.

    Related terms

    * conference

    See also

    * cf ----