congee

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly)
2. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Leave, formal permission for some action, (originally and particularly):
3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Formal dismissal; (figurative) any dismissal; (originally & particularly humorously ironic) abrupt dismissal without ceremony.

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

4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Formal leavetaking; (figurative) any farewell.
5. (Scotland, countable, obsolete, uncountable)A fee paid to make another go away, (particularly) alms to a persistent beggar.
6. (archaic, countable, uncountable)A bow, curtsey, or other gesture (originally) made at departure but (later) including at greeting or in obeissance or respect.

   “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;) …”

   “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.”

7. (uncountable, usually)A type of thick rice porridge or soup, sometimes prepared with vegetables and/or meat.

   “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.”

verb

1. (archaic, obsolete, transitive)To give congee, (particularly)
2. (archaic, obsolete, transitive)To give congee, (particularly)
3. (archaic)To take congee: to leave ceremoniously.
4. (archaic)To make a congee: to bow, curtsey, etc., (particularly dialectal) while leaving; (figuratively) to make obeissance, show respect, or defer to someone or something.