farewell

¹ American  

[fair-wel] / ˌfɛərˈwɛl /

interjection

1. goodbye; may you fare well.

   Farewell, and may we meet again in happier times.

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noun

1. an expression of good wishes at parting.

   They made their farewells and left.

2. leave-taking; departure.

   a fond farewell.

3. a party given to a person who is about to embark on a long journey, retire, leave an organization, etc.

adjective

1. parting; valedictory; final.

   a farewell performance.

Farewell ² American  

[fair-wel] / ˌfɛərˈwɛl /

noun

1. Cape, a cape in S Greenland: most southerly point of Greenland.

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farewell British  

/ ˌfɛəˈwɛl /

1. goodbye; adieu

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noun

1. a parting salutation

2. an act of departure; leave-taking

3. (modifier) expressing leave-taking

   a farewell speech

verb

1. to honour (a person) at his departure, retirement, etc

Etymology

Origin of farewell

First recorded in 1325–75, farewell is from the Middle English word farwel. See fare, well ¹

Example Sentences

Mary, her right arm extended toward Christ in a gesture of farewell or a reference to heaven above, forms part of a diagonal cutting across the painting that adds more dynamism to the drama.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since it announced its closure, I’ve been visiting as often as I can to say farewell, not only to the charmingly shabby faux-1920s interiors, but to the many lives I’ve lived at its tables.

From Los Angeles Times

The news comes as no surprise, given the way events have unfolded this season, but the timing is interesting - with Salah saying on his social channels that this is the "first part of my farewell".

From BBC

"Unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell," Salah said.

From BBC

He wasn’t ready for Catherine O’Hara to go, nor Rob Reiner, who bade Idle a poignant farewell at a recent L.A. party.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adieu
• bon voyage
• goodbye