Congee

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkÉ’ndÊ’iː/

From Old French congié (modern congé), from commeatus ("passage, permission to leave"), from commeo ("I go and come"), from con- + meo ("I go, I pass")

Alternative forms

• conge 16th-17th c.
• congé from 18th c.

Full definition of congee

Noun

1. (obsolete) Formal departure, ceremonial leave-taking.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.i:So courteous conge both did giue and take,
  With right hands plighted, pledges of good will.
2. (archaic) A bow.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.17:As salutations, reverences, or conges, by which some doe often purchase the honour, (but wrongfully) to be humble, lowly, and courteous ....
• 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:“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.

From Tamil, perhaps via Portuguese.

Alternative forms

• conjee

Noun

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

Derived terms

• rice congee

Synonyms

• jook
• juk