conge
conge — noun
1. formal permission given to a person, especially an ambassador or official, allow
formal permission given to a person, especially an ambassador or official, allowing them to depart or withdraw from a position or ceremony.
The ambassador requested his conge from the royal court before returning to his home country.
request + conge (formal leave-taking)
After the ceremony, the minister was granted conge and left the palace quietly.
granted conge (passive construction)
The old servant took his conge with a deep bow and walked out of the hall.
Before the delegation departed, the emperor himself gave them conge.
- detention
being kept against one's will
文法句型
give + someone + conge
receive + conge
用法筆記
Often used in historical or diplomatic contexts. Frequently appears in the construction 'take + possessive + conge' (to formally say goodbye and leave).
常見錯誤
2. an abrupt or unceremonious dismissal from a job, position, or situation, often c
an abrupt or unceremonious dismissal from a job, position, or situation, often carrying a tone of finality or rejection.
After the failed negotiations, the entire advisory board was given their conge.
given their conge (collective dismissal)
The young clerk received his conge after speaking rudely to a visiting dignitary.
When the minister refused to resign, the prime minister handed him his conge without further discussion.
Lara knew that borrowing money from the treasury would mean her conge the next morning.
- appointment
being placed into a position rather than removed from one
文法句型
give + someone + their + conge
get + one's + conge
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 emphasises permission given to depart voluntarily; sense 2 emphasises being sent away against one's will, often with disgrace.
常見錯誤
3. a deep, formal bow made when taking leave of someone, especially in a courtly or
a deep, formal bow made when taking leave of someone, especially in a courtly or ceremonial setting.
The young nobleman made a deep conge to the queen before backing out of the throne room.
make + a + conge (verb collocation)
Hyun gave a graceful conge and withdrew from the gathering of scholars.
With a theatrical conge, the court jester departed, leaving the hall in laughter.
Each guest performed a respectful conge before stepping out of the ambassador's tent.
文法句型
make + a + conge
with + a + conge
用法筆記
This sense refers specifically to the physical act of bowing, not to the permission or act of leaving itself. Commonly paired with the verb 'make' or 'perform'.
常見錯誤
4. an act of taking leave or saying goodbye, particularly in a formal or literary c
an act of taking leave or saying goodbye, particularly in a formal or literary context where the emphasis is on the departure itself rather than the permission for it.
The old professor bid his colleagues conge and retired to the countryside for good.
bid + conge (collocation for formal leave-taking)
Noor took conge of her friends at the harbour, knowing she might not see them again.
took conge of (prepositional pattern with 'of')
At the end of the feast, the guests took their conge one by one.
It was a sad conge, with everyone embracing and promising to write often.
- adieu
a French borrowing with a similar formal, literary register
- valediction
a formal farewell, especially in writing or speech
- greeting
the act of welcoming rather than saying goodbye
文法句型
bid + someone + conge
take + conge
用法筆記
Subtly different from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on the permission that enables departure, whereas this sense focuses on the act of saying goodbye itself. Frequently paired with 'bid' or 'take'.
常見錯誤
5. a concave moulding with a curved inward profile, used in classical architecture
a concave moulding with a curved inward profile, used in classical architecture as a decorative trim on columns, cornices, and doorways.
The ancient temple's entrance was framed by a finely carved conge molding.
conge molding (compound noun)
A narrow conge ran along the top of the marble column, catching the afternoon light.
The architect specified a conge profile for the cornice to match the building's neoclassical style.
Students of classical architecture learn to distinguish a conge from an ovolo by the direction of the curve.
- cavetto
the Latin-derived term for the same concave molding profile
- hollow molding
a descriptive English term for a concave architectural trim
- ovolo
a convex molding that curves outward, opposite to the conge's inward curve
文法句型
conge + molding
conge + profile
用法筆記
In architectural terminology, 'conge' (or 'congé') denotes a concave curve — the opposite of an 'ovolo', which curves outward. Also known as a 'cavetto' in some traditions.