In Amemeba's "Redefinitions" thread, words starting with con- have been fertile ground. And casting about for such words has led to a question.

Is there any difference between join and conjoin?

Is there any difference between join and conjoin?

One has three more letters. But seriously. Is there a difference between to join and to join together? For me, conjoin occurs more rarely in speech and writing.

It is always conjoined twins, not joined twins because they are joined together. There does seem to be a slight difference to me.

1. I joined the army.
2. *I conjoined the army.
3. They (i.e., the conjoined twins) were joined at the hip.
4. "For a return the astrologer erects a chart for the moment, the exact moment, a transiting planet conjoins, or returns to, its birth position."

"Conjoined twins" occur normally in nature. With medical technology being at the level it is, I suppose "joined twins" might be a possibility but one would have to wonder about the mental state of two people desiring such an operation.

What about federated and confederated? Any difference there?

Sure. Federals wore blue, Confederates wore grey.