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 /

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

“Her death scene felt like a farewell, and I reflected on the fact that I called her mum for 12 years and that was very strange,” Bonneville adds.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a rousing farewell for Mary Roy, fierce and untamed in life and on the page.

From BBC

He died less than three weeks after he and his Black Sabbath bandmates had played a farewell concert for 40,000 fans at Villa Park football ground.

From BBC

A farewell video had already filmed and edited such was the likelihood that Guehi would be leaving.

From BBC

“Red Eye Flight” is also a farewell to Price’s long-time band, the wonderfully named Price Tags, who played on the record but won’t be out on the road performing it.

From Salon

Related Words

• adieu 
• bon voyage 
• goodbye