[fed.er.al] adj [L foeder-, foedus compact, league; akin to L fidere to trust--more at bide] (1660) 1 archaic: of or relating to a compact or treaty
2. 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 units 3 cap: advocating or friendly to the principle of a federal government with strong centralized powers; esp: of or relating to the American Federalists
4. often cap: of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government or the Union armies of the U.S. in the American Civil War
5. cap: being or belonging to a style of architecture and decoration current in the U.S. following the Revolution -- fed.er.al.ly adv Federal n (1861) 1: a supporter of the U.S. government in the Civil War; esp: a soldier in the federal armies
2: fed--usu. used in pl.