Forms: 4 confeccioun, 5–6 -ion, 5–7 -fexion, 5 -fectyone, 6 -tione, -feccyon, (-feccon), 5– confection. [a. F. confection, OF. confeccion, ad. L. confectiōn-em, n. of action from conficĕre: see CONFECT v.]
1. Making or preparation by mixture of ingredients; mixing, compounding; composition, preparation, making up, manufacture. Sometimes esp. the making of preserves or confectionery.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., in Ashm. (1652), 89. Confection of the Red medicine.
1584. R. Scot, Disc. Witchcr., XII. xvii. 212. There be artificial glasses, which will shew unto you … many images … Looke in John Bap. Neap. for the confection of such glasses.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 128. For a confection of some kinde of bloud.
1654. Charleton, Physiologia, 379. Commixt with so many Alexiterial Simples as concur to the Confection of Triacle.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xv. Pots of jam of her confection.
1884. T. Hancock, in Academy, 23 Feb., 133/3. He said that poetry had other business than the ingenious confection of new tropes and metaphors.
† 2. The performance of the sacrifice of the mass. Obs.
1564. Becon, Compar. Lord’s Supp. & Mass, Epil. Blasphemies against Christ … invocation of dead saints, confection, consecration, application, and oblation of the body and blood of Christ.
† 3. Putting together; arrangement; compilation.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., xxiv. 223. For without a constellated fabrication or confection all these presaging mirables (and the like) signifie nothing in effect.
1821. W. Taylor, in Monthly Mag., LII. 140. To Ezra principally was confided the confection of the Scriptures.
† 4. Prepared or composed state or condition; composition, constitution. Obs.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., II. 406. This fisshe, and lardde, and flitches salt to kepe In just confection now taketh kepe.
1609. Bible (Douay), Ecclus. xlix. 1. The memorie of Josias is according to the confection of perfume made by … an apothecarie.
1633. P. Fletcher, Pisc. Ecl., V. xix. Why blam’st thou then my stonie hard confection, which nothing loves?
1675. L. Addison, Pres. State Jews, xiii. The Ink … must not be black, nor of the ordinary confection.
† 5. A preparation made by mixing; a composition, mixture, compound. Obs. in general sense.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 221. Þat man closede a confeccioun of brymston and of blak salt in a vessel of bras, and sette hit on þe fire.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. I. iv. Potable Gold, Mercury, and many other chymicall confections.
b. A medicinal preparation compounded of various drugs; in later use, spec. one compounded with a sweetening and preserving agent.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xi. (1495), 609. Laye the same confexion to the sore wythout.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 94 (MS. A). Leie on þis confeccioun maad of flour of wheete & honey & jus of smalache.
1549. Compl. Scot., ix. 80. That confectione vas callit to name eftiruart, antidotum mitridates.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, B v. Make a confeccon of the floure of Fenell Seede in a Glasse with wyne and annoynt the lead therwyth.
1611. Bible, Ecclus. xxxviii. 8. Of such doeth the Apothecarie make a confection [Wyclif pymentis of swotenesse].
1812. Paris Pharmacol. (1829), II. 177. Confectiones … under this title the London College comprehends the conserves and electuaries of its former Pharmacopœias.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 18. Confections are medicinal substances beaten up with sugar into a pasty mass.
† c. spec. A prepared poison, a deadly potion.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 49. Here is the confection yt thou must drinke.
1547–64. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos., I. li. After he [Socrates] had commended his soule to God, hee dranke the confection.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretarie, II. (1625), 98. A venemous confection.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. V. 288.
| If Pasanio | |
| Haue (said she) giuen his Miftris that Confection | |
| Which I gaue him for Cordiall, she is seru’d, | |
| As I would serue a Rat. |
1658. Ussher, Ann., VI. 572. Well skilled in Confections of the poyson of Serpents.
d. A prepared dish or delicacy; now, a preparation of fruit, spices, sugar, or the like, used as a relish or dainty; a preserve, sweetmeat, comfit.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 23. Confection of cokes.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 90. Confectyon of spyces.
a. 1536. Tindale, Expos. Matt. (Parker Soc.), 97. To banquet … of all manner of fruits and confections.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., I. (1877), 102. Sweet condyments and delicat confections of spiceries.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 705. They have in Turkey … certaine Confections, which they call Serbets, which are like Candied Conserves.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Preserve, To make a thick Confection of Grapes.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 242. Many salvers were covered with confections and sweet cakes.
1888. Pall Mall G., 25 Sept., 5/1. ‘Drop a penny into the slot’ and you can … obtain … a pennyworth of confections.
e. fig.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. vi. (1739), 28. A Confection made for the Arch-bishop’s appetite, to cure a distemper between him and the King.
† 6. A literary or musical composition. ? Obs.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, Ded. No Selfe-presuming of my Witts perfection (In what is mine of this Divine Confection).
1844. H. F. Chorley, Music & M., III. 269. A young lady in a sacque sate singing some ancient confection by Mondonville.
ǁ 7. Dress-making. The French word for any ready-made article of attire, used particularly, in reference to fashionable female apparel, of mantles, cloaks, wraps, etc., put on over the ordinary indoor dress.
1885. Globe, 31 Jan., 7/4. The confections that are intended to be retained over toilettes of this class are very elaborately trimmed.
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, 16. A dainty confection of pale blue silk, called, I think, surat.
8. Comb., as confection-closet; confection-pan, a pan for drying sweets, bonbons, etc., in which they are kept in constant rolling motion.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), Post. Groans, No. 19. Continually losing the choicest articles of the larder, cellar, and confection-closet.
