greet

Etymology 1

From Middle English greten, from Old English grētan, from Proto-Germanic *grōtijaną.

verb

1. (transitive) To welcome in a friendly manner, either in person or through another means such as writing.
2. (transitive) To arrive at or reach, or meet.
   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
3. (transitive) To accost; to address.
4. (intransitive, archaic) To meet and give salutations.
5. (transitive) To be perceived by (someone).
   A brilliant dawn greeted her eyes as she looked out of the window.
   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. 1964-06-16, “All Eyes On Lema At U.S. Open This Week”, in The Indianapolis Star, volume 62, number 11, Indianapolis, Ind., page 22
   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. 2013-06-08, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52

Etymology 2

From Middle English greet, grete (“great”).

adj

1. (obsolete outside Scotland) Great.

Etymology 3

From a blend of two Old English verbs, grētan, grǣtan (itself from Proto-Germanic *grētaną); and of Old English grēotan (itself from Proto-Germanic *greutaną), both meaning "to weep, lament".

verb

1. (Scotland, Northern England) To weep; to cry.
   And damn't! if he didn't take down her bit things and scone her so sore she grat like a bairn …. 1933, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Cloud Howe (A Scots Quair), Polygon, published 2006, page 312
   My maw went potty and started greeting. 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 2

noun

1. (obsolete) Mourning, weeping, lamentation.