Congee

//ˈkɑnd͡ʒi// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly) countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    A type of thick rice porridge or soup, sometimes prepared with vegetables and/or meat. uncountable, usually

    "In a past life in Fuzhou, it represented some reality other than the one of daily congee and pickled turnips, cabbage and boiled rip soup."

  3. 3
    an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal wordnet
  4. 4
    Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly):; Formal permission to leave; a passport. countable, obsolete, uncountable
  5. 5
    formal permission to depart wordnet
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    Formal dismissal; (figurative) any dismissal; (originally & particularly humorously ironic) abrupt dismissal without ceremony. countable, obsolete, uncountable

    "So courteous conge both did giue and take, With right hands plighted, pledges of good will."

  2. 7
    (architecture) a concave molding wordnet
  3. 8
    Formal leavetaking; (figurative) any farewell. countable, obsolete, uncountable
  4. 9
    a Chinese rice gruel eaten for breakfast wordnet
  5. 10
    A fee paid to make another go away, (particularly) alms to a persistent beggar. Scotland, countable, obsolete, uncountable
  6. 11
    A bow, curtsey, or other gesture (originally) made at departure but (later) including at greeting or in obeissance or respect. archaic, countable, uncountable

    "As salutations, reverences, or conges, by which some doe often purchase the honour, (but wrongfully) to be humble, lowly, and courteous[…]."

Verb
  1. 1
    To give congee, (particularly); To give formal permission to leave; to dismiss. archaic, obsolete, transitive
  2. 2
    perform a ceremonious bow wordnet
  3. 3
    To give congee, (particularly); To give formal permission to do something; to license. archaic, obsolete, transitive
  4. 4
    depart after obtaining formal permission wordnet
  5. 5
    To take congee: to leave ceremoniously. archaic
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    To make a congee: to bow, curtsey, etc., (particularly dialectal) while leaving; (figuratively) to make obeissance, show respect, or defer to someone or something. archaic

Etymology

Etymology 1

From late Middle English congie, from Old French congié, congiet (modern French congé), from Latin commeātus (“passage, permission to leave”), from commeō (“I go and come”), from con- + meō (“I go, I pass”). Figurative senses generally borrowed from developments in French congé.

Etymology 2

From late Middle English congie, from Old French congié, congiet (modern French congé), from Latin commeātus (“passage, permission to leave”), from commeō (“I go and come”), from con- + meō (“I go, I pass”). Figurative senses generally borrowed from developments in French congé.

Etymology 3

From Tamil கஞ்சி (kañci) or another Dravidian language such as Malayalam കഞ്ഞി (kaññi) (ultimately from Proto-Dravidian *kañci), possibly via Portuguese canje.

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