farewell

¹

[ fair-wel ]

interjection

1. goodbye; may you fare well:

   Farewell, and may we meet again in happier times.

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

[ fair-wel ]

noun

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

farewell

/ ˌfɛəˈwɛl /

sentence substitute

1. goodbye; adieu

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of farewell¹

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

Example Sentences

Rafael Nadal says he would like to be remembered as "a kid who followed their dreams" as the tennis great bid a poignant farewell to the sport.

From BBC

Nadal's answers included the importance of saying farewell at home, the thought process leading up to his retirement announcement and that he assumed Roger Federer would be "too busy" to turn up in Malaga.

From BBC

With two blasts of its horn, MV Hebridean Isles bade farewell as it left the quay at Stornoway for a final time on Sunday, bound for Glasgow before it goes to the breakers.

From BBC

Colleagues and residents threw Mrs Pritchard a retirement party with cake, flowers and champagne to say farewell.

From BBC

As medical TV drama Doctors says farewell with its final episode later, a 9,000-signature petition to try to save it shows just how much it resonated with audiences.

From BBC

Related Words

• adieu
• bon voyage
• goodbye