Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Leave to depart; leave-taking; dismissal; congé.
  • noun An act of respect performed by persons on separating or taking leave; hence, a customary act of reverence or civility on other occasions; a bow or a courtesy.
  • noun In India, rice-water or -gruel; water in which rice has been boiled, much used in the diet of invalids.
  • noun Any gruel or similar food for invalids.
  • To give leave or command to depart; dismiss; take leave of.
  • To take leave with the customary civilities.
  • To use ceremonious and respectful inclinations of the body; bow; salute.

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

  • obsolete See congé, conge.
  • noun India Boiled rice; rice gruel.
  • noun India A jail; a lockup.
  • noun rice water discharges.
  • noun water in which rice has been boiled.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun obsolete Formal departure, ceremonial leave-taking.
  • noun archaic A bow.
  • noun A type of thick rice porridge or soup, sometimes prepared with vegetables and/or meat.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (architecture) a concave molding
  • verb depart after obtaining formal permission
  • noun formal permission to depart
  • noun an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal
  • verb perform a ceremonious bow
  • noun a Chinese rice gruel eaten for breakfast

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

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")

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Tamil, perhaps via Portuguese.

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Examples

  • I had a pumpkin congee and then the spicy tofu stew, which came with a kimchi pancake and a side of japche and two different kinds of rice.

    Breakfast in Bed desayunoencama 2005

  • The traditional Chinese rice porridge, called congee , will soon become a staple of hotel breakfast buffets in America and abroad as U.S.-based hotel chains compete for growing numbers of Chinese travelers.

    Red Carpet for the Chinese Alexandra Berzon 2011

  • This creamy Chinese rice porridge—also known as congee—is a perfect cold-weather soup, and a fine vehicle for delicious add-ins.

    The Food Matters Cookbook Mark Bittman 2010

  • On a rainy winter morning in San Francisco, nothing beats a steaming hot bowl of jook, Asian-style rice porridge also known as congee, at Hing Lung in Chinatown.

    Rainy day breakfast 2005

  • Rice porridge, called congee by the Chinese, is a favorite breakfast and is the best food to serve for those who are weak or unable to assimilate other foods.

    THE NATURAL REMEDY BIBLE JOHN LUST 2003

  • A Also known as congee or porridge and made from any cereal, legume or grain, it is eaten unseasoned, sweet or savory and is an all-day favorite of the

    WN.com - Articles related to Congress moves to feed more school children, takes aim at unhealthy school lunches 2010

  • The hole was quickly filled by gelato, frozen custard and Also known as congee or porridge and made from any cereal, legume or grain, it is eaten unseasoned, sweet or savory and is an all-day favorite of the

    WN.com - Articles related to Asia stocks up after upbeat economic data, US rise 2010

  • Yum Brands Inc. has had success in China with its KFC fried-chicken chain by offering menu items familiar to Chinese consumers, such as congee, or rice porridge, and the Dragon Twister, a sandwich wrap filled with chicken, Peking duck sauce, cucumbers and scallions.

    Kraft Reformulates Oreo, 2008

  • It says "congee" on the can--I thought that was odd.

    The end is near mj 2007

  • And whichever name you call it, it will still taste as good though I suspect the word "congee" sounds much more sophisticated and refined to be used.

    Delicious Asian Food 2010

Comments

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  • The modern usage of this word, that is a rice porridge needs to be first (as is the case in noad2) and the leave to depart usages labelled with archaic.

    May 14, 2013