valedictio

Valedictio is a Latin noun meaning a farewell, especially a farewell speech or address given at parting or at the end of a term or ceremony. In classical usage, it denotes a formal act of bidding farewell, often conducted in a public or rhetorical setting.

Etymology and related English forms come from the Latin root vale, meaning farewell or be well, combined with dicere, “to say.” The resulting term has given rise to several English derivatives that are widely used today: valediction, valedictory, and valedictorian. Valediction typically refers to a closing statement or farewell phrase in correspondence, while valedictory can be a noun or adjective describing a farewell address or an event or item related to bidding farewell. Valedictorian designates the student with the highest academic rank who traditionally delivers a valedictory address at a graduation ceremony.

Usage and context: In Latin, valedictio describes various farewell speeches or partsing speeches in rhetoric or formal settings. In modern English, the concept survives primarily in ceremonial contexts, such as graduation, where the valedictorian delivers a concluding valedictory address. The term also appears in discussions of letter writing to denote a formal closing or valediction.

See also: valediction, valedictory, valedictorian.