Obs. Also con-. [orig. perh. a. OF. confiter, f. confit; afterwards referred directly to COMFIT sb.] trans.
† 1. To prepare, make into a ‘preparation.’ Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 243/4. Take thyse thynges & confyte them with the Juse of porret.
2. To preserve, to pickle; esp. (in later use) to preserve with sugar, make into a comfit.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, N iij b. His herte confyted in spyeces I had made themperour and his wyf to ete hit.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, IV. lviii. 520. The Apothecaries … do use to preserve and comfit the roote of Eryngium.
1629. J. Cole, Of Death, 174. The Comfit-maker or Apottecarie that comfites them [Walnuts or Figges].
1656. Cowley, Pindar. Odes, The Muse. The Fruit … Thou comfitest in Sweets to make it last.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Purslain, If you would comfit your Purslain … powder them well with Salt and Cloves … fill the Pot with good Vinegar. Ibid., s.v. Tansy, The Root being comfited with some Honey.
1736. Bailey, Househ. Dict., 36. Apples comfited whole or in halves.
¶ Humorously for comfort; in second quot. with pun, implying ‘to help (oneself) to comfits.’
1598. Meres, Pall. Tamia. Comfit thyself, sweet Tom, with Cicero’s glorious return to Rome.
1631. Heywood, Fair Maid of West, I. v. Wks. 1874, II. 325. I will make bold to march in towards your banquet, and there comfit my selfe, and cast all carawayes downe my throat.
Hence Comfited ppl. a., Comfiting vbl. sb.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong., Confiction ou confiture, a confiction, or confiting.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 117/2. Take confitede mettes, cut them smalle, and contunde them to pappe.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Appetite, Comfited Mulberries or Almonds.
