Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly):
Formal permission to leave; a passport.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Formal dismissal; (figurative) any dismissal; (originally & particularly humorously ironic) abrupt dismissal without ceremony.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Formal leavetaking; (figurative) any farewell.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A fee paid to make another go away, (particularly) alms to a persistent beggar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland, countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A bow, curtsey, or other gesture (originally) made at departure but (later) including at greeting or in obeissance or respect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A type of thick rice porridge or soup, sometimes prepared with vegetables and/or meat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Qualifier: Asian cooking
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To give congee, (particularly)
To give formal permission to leave; to dismiss.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To give congee, (particularly)
To give formal permission to do something; to license.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To take congee: to leave ceremoniously.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To make a congee: to bow, curtsey, etc., (particularly dialectal) while leaving; (figuratively) to make obeissance, show respect, or defer to someone or something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: conge
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dismissal, dismission, discharge, firing, liberation, release, sack, sacking
noun
formal permission to depart
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: conge
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: license, permission, permit
noun
(architecture) a concave molding
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: conge
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: molding, moulding
noun
a Chinese rice gruel eaten for breakfast
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: jook
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: gruel
verb
perform a ceremonious bow
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: conge
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bow, bow down
verb
depart after obtaining formal permission
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: depart, take leave, quit
History
From late Middle English congie, from Old French congié, congiet (modern French congé), from Latin commeātus (“passage, permission to leave”), from commeō (“to go and come”), from con- + meō (“to go, to pass”). Figurative senses generally borrowed from developments in French congé.
From Tamil கஞ்சி (kañci) or another Dravidian language such as Malayalam കഞ്ഞി (kaññi) (ultimately from Proto-Dravidian *kañci), possibly via Portuguese canje.
Across languages
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
