valedict

English

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin valē (“farewell”) + Latin dīcō (“to speak”).

Verb

valedict (third-person singular simple present valedicts, present participle valedicting, simple past and past participle valedicted)

1. To farewell; to make a valediction or parting gesture.
   • 1930, Thomas Lewis, These seventy years: an autobiography, page 99:

     It was a privilege to be valedicted at such a meeting, and the inspiration of it has never passed from my heart. I believe the only new missionary valedicted was Herbert Anderson, leaving for India ;

   • 1972, Outposts - Issues 63-75, page iv:

     From this fake volcano that sits in the envied room where all bucks stop, the ash of an envious core falls out on the sleeve of an always advancing arm that valedicts policies with one blessing : Fail.

   • 1976, Horace Mann Bond, Education for freedom: a history of Lincoln University, page 285:

     At once Hendricks proceeded to valedict with all of the polished "to you who, and to you who, and to you, we say a last fond farewell." Dr. Rendall had a rare felicity of phrase.

   • 2013, Frank Binder, A Journey in England, page 88:

     Finally when the condensed milk of their kindness has been spent, and the last guest has been unctuously valedicted into the outer darkness that is denser than when he came, they gladly glimpse into the accounts, and who will question the joy of the lord that they are still intact?.

   • 2018, Tibor Fischer, The Thought Gang:

     “You lucky bugger,” he valedicted, “I wish I could get away from this dump for a year.”

Noun

valedict (plural valedicts)

1. (Australia) Valedictorian.
   • 1901, The British Australasian and New Zealand Mail, page 1172:

     Sydney, August 8, Earl Beauchamp, the Governor, and Sir W. Lyne, the Premier, visited the transport Salamis this afternoon and delivered valedict's addresses on the occasion of the departure of the New South Wale; contingent for China.

   • 1912, McClure's Magazine - Volume 38, page 569:

     Want you be valedict — you understand what mean?

   • 1995, Helen Garner, The First Stone:

     My wife retired, and I moved around the corridors talking to the students, specially the valedicts.