• Farewell

    Pronunciation

    Origin

    From Middle English farewel, from fare wel!, an imperative expression, equivalent to fare("to fare, travel, journey") + well. Cognate with Scots farewele, fairweill ("farewell"), West Frisian farwol ("farewell"), Dutch vaarwel ("farewell"), Danish farvel ("farewell"), Norwegian farvel ("farewell"), Swedish farväl ("farewell"), Faroese farvæl ("farewell"), Icelandic far vel ("farewell").

    Full definition of farewell

    Noun

    farewell

    (plural farewells)
    1. A wish of happiness or welfare at parting, especially a permanent departure; the parting compliment; a goodbye; adieu.
      • 1922, Ben Travers, A Cuckoo in the Nest Chapter 5, The departure was not unduly prolonged....Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.
    2. An act of departure; leave-taking; a last look at, or reference to something.

    Adjective

    farewell

    1. Parting, valedictory, final.
      a farewell discourse;  the band's farewell tour
      • 1908, W. B. M. Ferguson, Zollenstein Chapter 1, “I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”.

    Interjection

    1. goodbyeHe said "Farewell!" and left.
      • MiltonSo farewell hope, and with hope, farewell fear.

    Verb

    1. To bid farewell or say goodbye
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