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Valedictory

//ˌvælɪˈdɪktəɹi// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or pertaining to a valediction (“an act of parting company; a speech made when parting company”); designed for or suitable to an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company. not-comparable

    "a valedictory oration"

  2. 2
    Of or pertaining to a valedictorian (“the individual in a graduating class who delivers the farewell address, often the person who graduates with the highest grades”). Canada, US, not-comparable

    "The first was Larissa Martinez, who divulged her undocumented status during her valedictory speech and told the crowd at her McKinney, Texas, high school graduation she would be attending Yale University with a financial aid package in the fall."

Adjective
  1. 1
    of a speech expressing leave-taking wordnet
  2. 2
    of or relating to an occasion or expression of farewell wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    An address given on an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company.

    "[Jean-Claude] Juncker gave an emotional valedictory. When he stopped speaking, an Italian journalist stood up. "History will judge you, Mr Juncker," the journalist said solemnly, "but we will never forget you" before urging a round of applause for the Luxembourger's "30 years as a true European"."

  2. 2
    a farewell oration (especially one delivered during graduation exercises by an outstanding member of a graduating class) wordnet
  3. 3
    A speech given by a valedictorian at a commencement or graduation ceremony. Canada, US, specifically

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin valedictum + English -ory (suffix forming nouns meaning ‘that which pertains to’, or adjectives meaning ‘of or pertaining to’). Valedictum is the accusative supine of valedīcō (“to bid farewell; to give a valediction”), from valē (“farewell, goodbye”) (the imperative of valeō (“to be healthy or well; to be strong; to have influence or power”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“powerful, strong; to rule”)) + dīcō (“to say, speak”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to point out”)). By surface analysis, valedict + -ory.

Etymology 2

From Latin valedictum + English -ory (suffix forming nouns meaning ‘that which pertains to’, or adjectives meaning ‘of or pertaining to’). Valedictum is the accusative supine of valedīcō (“to bid farewell; to give a valediction”), from valē (“farewell, goodbye”) (the imperative of valeō (“to be healthy or well; to be strong; to have influence or power”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“powerful, strong; to rule”)) + dīcō (“to say, speak”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to point out”)). By surface analysis, valedict + -ory.

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