Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Farewell

Fareˊwell′

,
int
erj.
[
Fare
(thou, you) +
well
.]
Go well; good-by; adieu; – originally applied to a person departing, but by custom now applied both to those who depart and those who remain. It is often separated by the pronoun;
as,
fare
you
well
; and is sometimes used as an expression of separation only;
as,
farewell
the year;
farewell
, ye sweet groves; that is, I bid you
farewell
.
So
farewell
hope, and with hope,
farewell
fear.
Milton.
Fare
thee
well
! and if forever,
Still forever
fare
thee
well
.
Byron.
☞ The primary accent is sometimes placed on the first syllable, especially in poetry.

Fareˊwell′

,
Noun.
1.
A wish of happiness or welfare at parting; the parting compliment; a good-by; adieu.
2.
Act of departure; leave-taking; a last look at, or reference to something.
And takes her
farewell
of the glorious sun.
Shakespeare
Before I take my
farewell
of the subject.
Addison.

Fare′wellˊ

,
Adj.
Parting; valedictory; final;
as, a
farewell
discourse; his
farewell
bow.
Leans in his spear to take his
farewell
view.
Tickell.
Farewell rock
(Mining)
,
the Millstone grit; – so called because no coal is found worth working below this stratum. It is used for hearths of furnaces, having power to resist intense heat.
Ure.

Webster 1828 Edition

Farewell

FA'REWELL

, a compound of fare, in the imperative, and well. Go well; originally applied to a person departing, but by custom now applied both to those who depart and those who remain. It expresses a kind wish, a wish of happiness to those who leave or those who are left.
The verb and adverb are often separated by the pronoun; fare you well; I wish you a happy departure; may you be well in your absence.
It is sometimes an expression of separation only. Farewell the year; farewell ye sweet groves; that is, I take my leave of you.

FA'REWELL

,
Noun.
1.
A wish of happiness or welfare at parting; the parting compliment; adieu.
2.
Leave; act of departure.
And takes her farewell of the glorious sun.
Before I take my farewell of the subject.

Definition 2024

farewell

farewell

English

Noun

farewell ‎(plural farewells)

  1. A wish of happiness or welfare at parting, especially a permanent departure; the parting compliment; a goodbye; adieu.
    • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:
      The departure was not unduly prolonged. […] Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.
  2. An act of departure; leave-taking; a last look at, or reference to something.

Translations

Adjective

farewell ‎(not comparable)

  1. Parting, valedictory, final.
    a farewell discourse;  the band's farewell tour‎

Translations

Interjection

farewell

  1. Goodbye.
    He said "Farewell!" and left.
    • Milton
      So farewell hope, and with hope, farewell fear.

Translations

Verb

farewell ‎(third-person singular simple present farewells, present participle farewelling, simple past and past participle farewelled)

  1. To bid farewell or say goodbye.
    • 2009 February 9, Neil Wilson and staff writers, “Tributes for newsman Brian Naylor and wife, killed in fires”, in Herald Sun:
      He farewelled viewers with a warm sign-off after each bulletin: "May your news be good news, and goodnight."

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English farewel, from fare wel!, an imperative expression, equivalent to fare ‎(“to fare, travel, journey”) +‎ well. Compare Scots farewele, fairweill ‎(“farewell”), Saterland Frisian Foarwäil ‎(“farewell”), West Frisian farwol ‎(“farewell”), Dutch vaarwel ‎(“farewell”), Danish farvel ‎(“farewell”), Norwegian farvel ‎(“farewell”), Swedish farväl ‎(“farewell”), Faroese farvæl ‎(“farewell”), Icelandic far vel ‎(“farewell”).

Pronunciation

Similar Results