con·gé

(kŏn′zhā′, -jā′, kôN-zhā′) also con·gee (kŏn′jē′, - zhē′)

1. Formal or authoritative permission to depart.

2. An abrupt dismissal.

3. A leave-taking.

4. A formal bow.

5. Architecture A concave molding.

[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.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

congé

(ˈkɒnʒeɪ)

1. permission to depart or dismissal, esp when formal

2. a farewell

3. (Architecture) architect a concave moulding. See also cavetto

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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con•gé

(ˈkɒn ʒeɪ, -dʒeɪ, kɔ̃ˈʒeɪ)

n.

1. leave-taking; farewell.

2. permission to depart.

3. sudden dismissal.

4. a bow or obeisance.

5. a concave architectural molding.

[1695–1705; < French; see congee]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	conge - (architecture) a concave molding congee moulding, molding - a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing architecture - the discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings; "architecture and eloquence are mixed arts whose end is sometimes beauty and sometimes use"
	2.	conge - formal permission to depart; "he gave me his conge" congee permission, permit, license - the act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization
	3.	conge - an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal congee dismission, sacking, liberation, firing, dismissal, release, discharge, sack - the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
Verb	1.	conge - perform a ceremonious bow congee bow, bow down - bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head; "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame"