greet en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ɡɹiːt/
Etymology
From Middle English greten, from Old English grētan, from Proto-West Germanic *grōtijan, from Proto-Germanic *grōtijaną. Cognate with Dutch groeten, German grüßen, grüssen.
Meanings
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(transitive) To welcome in a friendly manner, either in person or through another means such as writing.
My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you.
c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:Warwick observed, as they passed through the respectable quarter, that few people who met the girl greeted her, and that some others whom she passed at gates or doorways gave her no sign of recognition; from which he inferred that she was possibly a visitor in the town and not well acquainted.
1900, Charles W[addell] Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC:
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(transitive) To arrive at or reach, or meet.
In vain the Spring my Senſes greets / In all her Colours, all her Svveets; / To me the Roſe / No longer glovvs, / Every Plant / Has loſt its Scent: […]
1707, [Joseph Addison], Rosamond. An Opera. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 9:Way deep in left field, where the carpet of green sloped upward to a terrace and greeted the thick line of trees, he reached out his glove.
2009, Loren Long, Phil Bildner, Magic in the Outfield, page 47:
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(transitive) To accost; to address.
Fair on his feet the polish'd sandals shine, And thus he greets the master of the swine:
1725–1726, Homer, “(please specify the book or chapter of the Odyssey)”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:I can be active as long as I stay in the closet. If I go forth as who I am, I will be greeted with closed doors.
1986, Stephan Lee Dais, “Don't Turn Your Back On Me”, in Joseph Beam, editor, In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology, page 61:
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(archaic, intransitive) To meet and give salutations.
There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace.
c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], line 90:
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(figuratively, transitive) To be perceived by (someone).
From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.
2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:Muggy heat—temperature in the 90s and high humidity—greeted early arrivals for the 72-hole, three-day test, rated the hardest and most important in the sport.
1964 June 16, “All Eyes On Lema At U.S. Open This Week”, in The Indianapolis Star, volume 62, number 11, Indianapolis, Ind., page 22:A brilliant dawn greeted her eyes as she looked out of the window.
The first thing that greets you on entering the church is a notice asking you not to vex the goat, since it renders valuable service in keeping the churchyard tidy.
1980, AA book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 164:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| greets | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| greeting | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| greeted | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| greeted | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Deriveds
greetable · regreet · autogreet · misgreet · meet-and-greet · greeter · begrutten · greeting · greetee · begreet
Synonyms
Translations (157)
sh pòzdravljati (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it salutare (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ro întâmpina (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · grc ἀσπάζομαι (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it dare il benvenuto (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ja 挨拶する (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · got 𐌲𐍉𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ar حَيَّا (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ru приве́тствовать (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ky саламдашуу (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · cs pozdravit (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · bo འཚམས་འདྲི་ཞུས (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ota سلاملامق (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · fr saluer (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ary بلغ السلام (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · cmn 打招呼 (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · oc saludar (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · es saludar (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · tl saludo (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · tg салом додан (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · bg заговарям (to accost; to address) · az salam vermək (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ur سلام کرنا (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hu köszönt (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it omaggiare (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · yi אויפֿנעמען (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · sk zdraviť (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · az salamlamaq (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · pt cumprimentar (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · fa سلام دادن (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hu üdvözöl (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · zdj ulaulia (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · tl bati (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ja 出迎える (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · uz salomlashmoq (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · mi mānawa (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · cy cyfarch (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · be здаро́ўкацца (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · sh pòzdraviti (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · uz salom bermoq (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · lt sveikinti (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · nan-hbl 相借喙 (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it fare gli auguri (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hu fogad (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · fi tervehtiä (to come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad) · bg поздравявам (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · az salamlaşmaq (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · sl pozdraviti (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · gl saudar (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · be сустрака́ць (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · mi owha (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · rup cãlimirsescu (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · cmn 迎接 (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it scambiarsi gli auguri (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · be віта́ць (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · bn অভিবাদন জানান (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · fi tervehtiä (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · bg приветствам (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · eo saluti (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ja 歓迎する (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hy ողջունել (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · cy annerch (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · nl ontvangen (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · nl begroeten (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · vi chào mừng (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · uk здоро́ватися (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · nl groeten (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · sv hälsa (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · bg посрещам (to come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad) · lv sveicināt (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · mk поздрави (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ro saluta (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · rup bunuescu (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · pl witać (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · yue 打招呼 (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · el χαιρετώ (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it salutare (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · tk salamlaşmak (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hu fogad (to come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad) · cs zdravit (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · qu rimaykuy (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · wa salouwer (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · nds-de begröten (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · chr ᎠᏲᎵᎭ (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · kk сәлемдесу (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · dsb strowiś (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · cmn 歡迎 /欢迎 (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ckt мынгаймэтык (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ru встре́тить (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · sl pozdravljati (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · wa adegnî (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · bg приемам (to come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad) · it fare i convenevoli (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · sh по̀здравити (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · mn мэндлэх (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · pt saudar (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hi अभिवादन करना (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · izh terettää (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · wa priyî l' bondjoû (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · yi מקבל־פּנים זײַן (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · lo ທັກ (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · rup ghinuescu (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · zza selam kerden (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it accogliere (to come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad) · yi גריסן (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · sh по̀здрављати (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · rup hiritisescu (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · fi tervehtiä (to accost; to address) · wa fé sene bondjoû (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · lb gréissen (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ko 인사하다 (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · de begrüßen (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hu köszönt (to come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad) · lo ຄຳນັບ (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ca saludar (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · mi oha (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · et tervitama (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ast saludar (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · fr recevoir (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · tr selamlamak (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · nl tegemoet komen (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · hi नमस्कार करना (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ngh nyebeke (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hy բարևել (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · km វន្ទា (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hu üdvözöl (to come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad) · da hilse (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · th ทัก (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ru здоро́ваться (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · fi tervehtiä (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · kk амандасу (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · my နှုတ်ဆက် (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ur آداب کرنا (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · vo glidön (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · th ทักทาย (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · uk зустріча́ти (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · dsb witaś (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · tl magsaludo (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · mk поздравува (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · hi स्वागत करना (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ru встреча́ть (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · es saludar (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · bn অভিবাদন করা (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · km គំនាប់ (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ka მისალმება (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · lv sveikt (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it indirizzare (to accost; to address) · de grüßen (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · it ossequiare (intransitive: to meet and give salutations) · ug سالاملاشماق (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · uk віта́ти (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · ary سلم (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · la salūtō (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · yi באַגריסן (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · vi chào (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · wa dire bondjoû (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes) · lo ທັກທາຽ (to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes)