Also 6 -fict. [f. L. confect- ppl. stem of confic-ĕre to put together, make up, prepare, complete, etc., f. con- + facĕre to do, make, put.] trans.
† 1. To put together, mix, compound (ingredients).
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 69. Confict them together with wine and make pilles of them.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, C iv b. Confecte or compounde al together.
1601. Holland, Pliny (1634), II. 152. Vnwholsome it is to mix, season, and confect therewith some other wine.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, I. xxxi. (1639), 52. Let all these be beaten into powder and searced, and confect that powder with clarified honie.
† 2. To prepare or make up by the combination of various ingredients; to compound. Obs.
1575. Turberv., Falconrie, 357. Confect the unguent of Capons grease, oyle of roses, oyle of violets, [etc.].
1580. Babington, Exp. Lord’s Prayer (1596), 90. The Phisitions prescription confected by the Apothecary.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, viii. 165. To confect a sauce.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 299. That poison … was confected … by his brother.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., 34. Confect many medicines.
† 3. To prepare for use as a relish or delicacy; to make into a comfit or confection; to preserve, pickle. ? Obs.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr. (1568), 39 a. When the nuttes be in season to conficte.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XV. iii. Olives … confected and seasoned with salt.
1624. Ford, etc., Sun’s Darling, IV. Mistery there … Confects the substance of the choicest fruits In a rich candy.
1681. Rycaut, Critick, 166. Those [words] which may embitter, and dress, and comfect them for the stomach of the receiver.
1808. [see CONFECTED].
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, II. xxv. Fashioning match-boxes, sorting paper, confecting jam.
† 4. To prepare (food) for digestion or assimilation; to digest. Obs.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 70. We first confect, and make ready in the mouth the rough and hard meates.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. xv. 75. A certain internal and vitriolated fier … doth readily and quickly confect and destroy the meates.
5. make (out of the materials). [In mod. use an affectation after F. confectionner; cf. CONFECTION sb. 6 and v. 3.]
1677. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 4), 309. Of this also were confected the famous Everlasting Lamps and Tapers. The stone is called Asbeston.
1880. Miss Broughton, Sec. Th., III. ii. Prodigies in the way of patchwork quilts, confected by fingers of three or four years.
