congee

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a Chinese rice gruel eaten for breakfast
  2. noun (architecture) a concave molding
  3. noun formal permission to depart

Etymology

From late Middle English congie, from Old French congié, congiet (modern French congé), from Latin commeātus (“passage, permission to leave”), from commeō (“to go and come”), from con- + meō (“to go, to pass”). Figurative senses generally borrowed from developments in French congé.

In classic literature

Synonyms

jook

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