Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Formal or authoritative permission to depart.
  • noun An abrupt dismissal.
  • noun A leave-taking.
  • noun A formal bow.
  • noun Architecture A concave molding.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In architecture, same as apophyge.
  • noun Leave; permission or leave to depart; dismissal: as, the ambassador received his congé: same as, and now commonly used (as distinctly French) in place of, congee.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act of taking leave; parting ceremony; farewell; also, dismissal.
  • noun The customary act of civility on any occasion; a bow or a courtesy.
  • noun (Arch.) An apophyge.
  • noun (Eccl.) the sovereign's license or permission to a dean and chapter to choose as bishop the person nominated in the missive.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English conge and French congé, both from Old French congie, from Latin commeātus, from past participle of commeāre, to come and go : com-, com- + meāre, to go; see mei- in Indo-European roots.]

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