Search the Dictionary

An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting. "Hail, brave friend." Shak. All hail. See in the Vocabulary. -- Hail Mary, a form of prayer made use of in the Roman Catholic Church in invocation of the Virgin. See Ave Maria.

To greet; to salute. [Obs.] P. Plowman.

To embrace about the neck; to salute; to greet. [Obs.] Each other kissed glad And lovely halst. Spenser.

The quality of being hearty; as, the heartiness of a greeting.

nd. "My lord being old also." Gen. xviii. 12. Thou worthy lord Of that unworthy wife that greeteth thee. Shak.

f saluting, or paying respect or reverence, by the customary words or actions; the act of greeting, or expressing good will or courtesy; also, that which is uttered or done in saluting or greeting. In all public meetings or private addresses, use those forms of salutation, reverence, and decency usual amongst the most…

Containing or expressing salutations; speaking a welcome; greeting; -- applied especially to the oration which introduces the exercises of the Commencements, or similar public exhibitions, in American colleges.

To adress, as with expressions of kind wishes and courtesy; to greet; to hail. I salute you with this kingly title. Shak.

To say "Salve" to; to greet; to salute. [Obs.] By this that stranger knight in presence came, And goodly salved them. Spenser.

A member of a senate. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. Shak.

o perform the customary act of civility by clasping and moving hands, as an expression of greeting, farewell, good will, agreement, etc. -- To shake out a reef (Naut.), to untile the reef points and spread more canvas. -- To shake the bells. See under Bell. -- To shake the sails (Naut.), to luff up in the wind, caus…

Carefully; properly; becomingly. [Obs.] A young clerk . . . in Latin thriftily them gret [greeted]. Chaucer.

uired), given to persons, as duke marquis, honorable, esquire, etc. With his former title greet Macbeth. Shak.

Showing desire; as, wishful eyes. From Scotland am I stolen, even of pure love To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. Shak.

r its object, at the end of sentence or clause in which it stands. [Obs.] This diamond he greets your wife withal. Shak. Whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal. Lev. v. 3.