farewell

[fair-wel]

See more synonyms for farewell on Thesaurus.com

interjection

goodby; may you fare well: Farewell, and may we meet again in happier times.

noun

an expression of good wishes at parting: They made their farewells and left.
leave-taking; departure: a fond farewell.
a party given to a person who is about to embark on a long journey, retire, leave an organization, etc.

adjective

parting; valedictory; final: a farewell performance.

Origin of farewell

First recorded in 1325–75, farewell is from the Middle English word farwel. See fare, well¹

Farewell

[fair-wel]

noun

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for farewell

Contemporary Examples

There was something cathartic about deleting this 2,500-word monster of a farewell, and resolving to live.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen
Parker Molloy
January 1, 2015
“If you see their car, you know some poor soul is about to die,” Noor says, at his farewell party.
Obama’s Deadly Informants: The Drone Spotters of Pakistan
Umar Farooq, Syed Fakhar Kakakhel
November 12, 2014
A Chinese restaurateur ran to the window as I wolfed down roast duck for my farewell dinner, as shots were heard across the way.
No Movie Stars, No Red Carpet, But Off-Season Cannes Is Still Magic
Liza Foreman
September 15, 2014
Will voters shower Breaking Bad with farewell trophies, or is the enthusiasm for True Detective impossible to beat?
What's TV's Best Drama? 'True Detective,' 'Game of Thrones,' and Our Emmy Predictions
Kevin Fallon
August 22, 2014
Cersei Lannister, meanwhile, was also transformed by a farewell of sorts.
Best ‘Game of Thrones’ Season Yet
Andrew Romano
June 16, 2014

Historical Examples

I am bound for my quarters, I came but to thank you for your goodness to me, and to bid you farewell.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you are.
Lady Susan
Jane Austen
So farewell, Katy, we're due to burst into high society tonight.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
And, unfortunately, it was not time yet to bid the creature "farewell."
It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
Farewell to the dismal, blood-red phantom of martial renown!
The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier

British Dictionary definitions for farewell

farewell

sentence substitute

goodbye; adieu

noun

a parting salutation
an act of departure; leave-taking
(modifier) expressing leave-takinga farewell speech

verb (tr)

Australian and NZ to honour (a person) at his departure, retirement, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for farewell

interj.

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, by early 15c.

farewell

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}farewell

Farewell

Examples from the Web for farewell

Contemporary Examples

There was something cathartic about deleting this 2,500-word monster of a farewell, and resolving to live.

“If you see their car, you know some poor soul is about to die,” Noor says, at his farewell party.

A Chinese restaurateur ran to the window as I wolfed down roast duck for my farewell dinner, as shots were heard across the way.

Will voters shower Breaking Bad with farewell trophies, or is the enthusiasm for True Detective impossible to beat?

Cersei Lannister, meanwhile, was also transformed by a farewell of sorts.

Historical Examples

I am bound for my quarters, I came but to thank you for your goodness to me, and to bid you farewell.

I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you are.

So farewell, Katy, we're due to burst into high society tonight.

And, unfortunately, it was not time yet to bid the creature "farewell."

Farewell to the dismal, blood-red phantom of martial renown!

farewell

Word Origin and History for farewell

interj.

Origin of farewell