farewell
pronunciation
How to pronounce farewell in British English:
UK [ˌfeəˈwel]
How to pronounce farewell in American English:
US [ˌferˈwel]
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- Noun:
- an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
- the act of departing politely
Word Origin
- farewell (interj.)
- expression at parting, late 14c., from Middle English faren wel, verbal phrase attested by c. 1200 (see fare (v.) + well (adv.)); usually said to the departing person, who replied with good-bye. As a noun, "a good-bye, a leave-taking," by early 15c. Expression to a fare-thee-well "to the last degree" is by 1884, American English.
Example
- 1. That morning we had a farewell ceremony for spock .
- 2. Bagehot bids farewell to an unhappy country .
- 3. Just check out that farewell e-mail !
- 4. I wave them farewell and pull the barricade into place .
- 5. I once had to watch a colleague use his farewell party to settle scores .