Conge, v. i. [Imp. & p. p. Congeed; p. pr. & vb. n. Congeing.] [OF. congier, congeer, F. congédier, fr. congé. See Congé, n.]
To take leave with the customary civilities; to bow or courtesy.
I have congeed with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest. Shak.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Congé (kôNzhay; E. konje; 277), n. [F., leave, permission, fr. L. commeatus a going back and forth, a leave of absence, furlough, fr. commeare, -meatum, to go and come; com- + meare to go. Cf. Permeate.] [Formerly written congie.]
1. The act of taking leave; parting ceremony; farewell; also, dismissal.
Should she pay off old Briggs and give her her congé Thackeray.
2. The customary act of civility on any occasion; a bow or a courtesy.
The captain salutes you with congé profound. Swift.
3. (Arch.) An apophyge. Gwilt.
Congé d'élire [F., leave to choose] (Eccl.), the sovereign's license or permission to a dean and chapter to choose as bishop the person nominated in the missive.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for conge; he lists it under farewell.
Where he writes about it:
Adieu, from the French, is still more ceremonious than farewell; conge, also from the French, is commonly contemptuous or supercilious, and equivalent to dismissal. — from farewell