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salutation

[sal-yuh-tey-shuh n]
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noun
  1. the act of saluting.
  2. something uttered, written, or done by way of saluting.
  3. a word or phrase serving as the prefatory greeting in a letter or speech, as Dear Sir in a letter or Ladies and Gentlemen in a speech.
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Origin of salutation

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin salūtātiōn- (stem of salūtātiō) greeting, equivalent to salūtāt(us) (past participle of salūtāre to greet; see salute, -ate1) + -iōn- -ion
Related formssal·u·ta·tion·al, adjectivesal·u·ta·tion·less, adjectivenon·sal·u·ta·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for salutations

Historical Examples

  • The presence of Monseigneur complicated the rites, the salutations, and the kisses.

    The Dream

    Emile Zola

  • He then turned to the ladies and Mr. Effingham, and repeated his salutations.

    Homeward Bound

    James Fenimore Cooper

  • There he was recognised by many, but he scarcely answered their salutations.

    The Manxman

    Hall Caine

  • The Clerk had recognised friends on the waggons, and was returning their salutations.

    The Manxman

    Hall Caine

  • Salutations are exchanged on the stoop, reverences, handshakings, introductions.

British Dictionary definitions for salutations

salutation

noun
  1. an act, phrase, gesture, etc, that serves as a greeting
  2. a form of words used as an opening to a speech or letter, such as Dear Sir or Ladies and Gentlemen
  3. the act of saluting
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Word Origin

C14: from Latin salūtātiō, from salūtāre to greet; see salute
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 salutations

salutation

n.

late 14c., from Old French salutacion "greeting," from Latin salutationem (nominative salutatio) "a greeting, saluting," noun of action from past participle stem of salutare "to greet" (see salute (v.)). As a word of greeting (elliptical for "I offer salutation") it is recorded from 1530s. Related: Salutations.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper