The Latin root “confect” means “put together,” and the English version of the verb applies to any process of combining different elements to make something new. A crafter confects their projects with various materials; a baker uses kitchen equipment and ingredients to confect their treats. You’re likely already familiar with other words that expand on the Latin root. “Confection” most commonly refers to a sweet dish, and a confectioner is the person who makes it. “Confectionery” with an “e” in the suffix is a noun meaning “candy” or “a shop that sells candy,” but if you change the vowel to an “a” (“confectionary”), it turns into an adjective with the same general usage.