congé

[ kon-zhey, -jey; French kawn-zhey ]

/ ˈkɒn ʒeɪ, -dʒeɪ; French kɔ̃ˈʒeɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR congé ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural con·gés [kon-zheyz, -jeyz; French kawn-zhey] /ˈkɒn ʒeɪz, -dʒeɪz; French kɔ̃ˈʒeɪ/.

leave-taking; farewell.

permission to depart.

sudden dismissal.

a bow or obeisance.

Architecture. a concave molding, as an apophyge, formed by a quadrant curving away from a given surface and terminating perpendicular to a fillet parallel to that surface.

Nearby words

congruently, congruity, congruous, congruous hemianopsia, congruously, congé, conic, conic projection, conic section, conical, conical cornea

Also congee.

Origin of congé

From French, dating back to 1695–1705; see origin at congee

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for conge

If a writer could not do their work the way they wanted it done he was not long in getting his conge.
The Fiction Factory|John Milton Edwards
Madama made her conge, and hoped "El Senora Maria un asiento."
Tom Cringle's Log|Michael Scott
William Barlow (1549-54) was translated from St. David's without even the form of a conge d'elire.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Wells|Percy Dearmer
Her high hereditary Majesty smiled on me when she gave Leicester conge and fiery quittance.
Michel and Angele [A Ladder of Swords], Complete|Gilbert Parker

We found the General had been wounded at Maubeuge, and was now abſent on conge for the recovery of his health.
A Residence in France During the Years 1792, 1793, 1794 and 1795, Complete|An English Lady

British Dictionary definitions for conge

congé

/ (ˈkɒnʒeɪ) /

noun

permission to depart or dismissal, esp when formal

a farewell

architect a concave mouldingSee also cavetto

Word Origin for congé

C16: from Old French congié, from Latin commeātus leave of absence, from meātus movement, from meāre to go, pass

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012