greeting

Definition

A conventional phrase used to start a letter or conversation or otherwise to acknowledge a person's arrival or presence.

Etymology

By surface analysis, greet + -ing.

Example Sentences

• "It's polite to begin a letter with a greeting, but this practice is less common in email."
• "I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town."

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