among the ancient Romans, a sort of gladiator, hired to fight in the amphitheatre against beasts; thence also denominated bestiarus.

The confectores were thus called ad conficiendis bestiis, from their despatching and killing beasts.

The Greeks called them παράβολοι, q. d. daring, rash, desperate; whence the Latins borrowed the appellations parabolani and parabolarii. The Christians were sometimes condemned to this sort of combat.

CONFFECTS, a denomination given to fruits, flowers, herbs, roots, &c. when boiled or prepared with sugar or honey, to dispose them to keep, and render them more agreeable to the taste.