Definition of: farewell

(fâr′wel′) noun
1. A parting salutation; a good–by; adieu.
2. The act of taking leave; parting.
—inter. (fâr′wel′) May you fare well; may you prosper: now used only at parting.
—adjective Parting; closing; valedictory.
—v.t. Poetic To take leave of.
—to a fare–you–well U.S. Colloq. Completely; with finality: beaten to a fare–you–well: also to a fare–thee–well. [Earlier fare well. See FARE.] Synonyms (noun): adieu, congé, good–by, leave–taking, valediction, valedictory. Good–by is the homely and hearty parting salutation, farewell the formal, English word at parting. Adieu, from the French, is still more ceremonious than farewell; congé, also from the French, is commonly contemptuous or supercilious, and equivalent to dismissal. Valediction is a learned word never in popular use. A valedictory is a public farewell to a company or assembly.