congee — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly)

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly): Formal permission to leave; a passport.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

3. Formal dismissal; (figurative) any dismissal; (originally & particularly humorously ironic) abrupt dismissal without ceremony.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

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

4. Formal leavetaking; (figurative) any farewell.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

5. A fee paid to make another go away, (particularly) alms to a persistent beggar.

   Usage

   • Scotland
   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

6. A bow, curtsey, or other gesture (originally) made at departure but (later) including at greeting or in obeissance or respect.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

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

   … I therefore, at this time, shall only add this advice to you, under and by the leave of my lord;’ (and with that he made Diabolus a very low congee;) …

   More examples (3)

   So saying, he bowed with a thousand apish congês, and presented his paper to Peregrine […].

   “My daughter Rebecca, so please your Grace,” answered Isaac, with a low congee, nothing embarrassed by the Prince’s salutation, in which, however, there was at least as much mockery as courtesy.

   His speech thus spake the Moor, and took his leave, he and his meiny where the bátels lay: formal farewells to chief and crews he gave, exchanging congees with due courtesy.

Verb

1. To give congee, (particularly) To give formal permission to leave; to dismiss.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

2. To give congee, (particularly) To give formal permission to do something; to license.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

3. To take congee: to leave ceremoniously.

   Usage

   • Archaic

4. To make a congee: to bow, curtsey, etc., (particularly dialectal) while leaving; (figuratively) to make obeissance, show respect, or defer to someone or something.

   Usage

   • Archaic

Noun

1. A type of thick rice porridge or soup, sometimes prepared with vegetables and/or meat.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

   Synonyms

   rice porridgerice congeeporridgezhoujookjuk

   Related words

   dim sum

   Examples

   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.

Noun

1. a Chinese rice gruel eaten for breakfast

   Synonyms

   jook

   Broader terms

   gruel

2. (architecture) a concave molding

   Synonyms

   conge

   Broader terms

   moldingmoulding

3. formal permission to depart

   Synonyms

   conge

   Broader terms

   licensepermissionpermit

   Examples

   he gave me his conge

4. an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal

   Synonyms

   conge

   Broader terms

   dismissaldismissiondischargefiringliberationreleasesacksacking

Verb

1. depart after obtaining formal permission

   Broader terms

   departtake leavequit

   Examples

   He has congeed with the King

2. perform a ceremonious bow

   Synonyms

   conge

   Broader terms

   bowbow down