comfit
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English
Etymology 1
From Old French confit (“preserved fruit”), from Latin cōnfectum. Doublet of confetto, confit, and konfyt.
Pronunciation
Noun
comfit (plural comfits)
- A confection consisting of a nut, seed or fruit coated with sugar.
- c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, ”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
- Heart! you swear like a comfit-maker's wife.
- 1869, Louisa May Alcott, Perilous Play:
- "Why, what are they?" she asked, looking at him askance. ¶ "Hashish; did you never hear of it?" ¶ "Oh, yes; it's that Indian stuff which brings one fantastic visions, isn't it? I've always wanted to see and taste it, and now I will," cried Belle, nibbling at one of the bean-shaped comfits with its green heart.
- 1922, James Elroy Flecker, The Story of Hassan of Baghdad and How he Came to Make the Golden Journey to Samarkand, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, act I, page 17:
- But since I ate your present of comfits—and they were admirable comfits, and I ate them with speed—my heart is changed and inclined toward you, I know not why or how, except it be through magic.
Derived terms
Related terms
See also
Verb
comfit (third-person singular simple present comfits, present participle comfiting, simple past and past participle comfited)
- (transitive, obsolete) To make into a dry sugared confection.
- 17th c, Abraham Cowley, The First Nemeæan Ode of Pindar: The Muse, 1795, Robert Anderson (editor), The Works of the British Poets, Volume 5, page 302,
- The fruit which does ſo quickly waſte, // Men ſcarce can ſee it, much leſs taſte, // Thou comfiteſt in ſweets to make it laſt.
- 17th c, Abraham Cowley, The First Nemeæan Ode of Pindar: The Muse, 1795, Robert Anderson (editor), The Works of the British Poets, Volume 5, page 302,
References
- “comfit”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Etymology 2
Acronym, from Computer Facial Identification Techniques.
Pronunciation
Noun
comfit (plural comfits)
- (Australia) A computerised image of a suspect produced for the police force.
References
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “comfit”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.