noun
comfit
KUM-fit/ˈkʌmfɪt/
A small sweet made by coating a seed or nut with sugar.
The cut comfit reveals an almond beneath its coating of sugar.
Etymology
The components express making something together, hence preparing it. The meaning narrowed from something prepared to fruit or other ingredients preserved with sugar, leading to the small sugar-coated sweet.
More examples
- She serves almond comfits in a small bowl.
- An anise comfit leaves a faint licorice flavor.
- The recipe makes comfits by repeatedly coating nuts with sugar.
Forms
comfit · comfits
Similar words
- candy
- A broader term for sweets of many different kinds.
- confection
- Any prepared sweet, including pastries as well as candies.