confect

English

Etymology

(deprecated template usage)

Borrowed from Latin cōnfectus, past participle of cōnficere, from com- (“together”) + facere (“to make”). Akin to comfit. See also confection.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kənˈfɛkt/

Verb

confect (third-person singular simple present confects, present participle confecting, simple past and past participle confected)

1. (transitive) To make up, prepare, or compound; to produce by combining ingredients or materials; to concoct.

   The woman confected a home remedy for the traveler's illness.

   The young bride's friends confected a dress from odds and ends of fabric.

   • Stirling

     [My joys] are still confected with some fears.

   • 1629, Sir Thomas Herbert, Travels in Persia

     Of this were confected the famous everlasting lamps and tapers.

2. (transitive, obsolete) To make into a confection; to prepare as a candy, sweetmeat, preserve, or the like.
   • 1613, William Browne, Brittania's Pastorals, book 1, song 2

     Saffron confected in Cilicia

Noun

confect (plural confects)

1. (obsolete) A rich, sweet, food item made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts; a confection, comfit.
   • Harvey

     At supper eat a pippin roasted and sweetened with sugar of roses and caraway confects.

   • 1889, Arthur Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke, Chapter 1

     She made salves and eyewaters, powders and confects, cordials and persico, orangeflower water and cherry brandy, each in its due season, and all of the best.

Related terms

• confection
• confectionary
• confectionery
• confectioner