valedictory

Etymology

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”)).

adj

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.
   a valedictory oration
   It was illustrated on page 617 of our October issue and the class as a whole was the subject of a valedictory article in our August, 1959 issue. 1961 December, “Motive Power Miscellany: Eastern Region”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 760
   When Fyodor had come up to Izzy six months ago, it had been understood as a valedictory mission before getting shunted to an administrator's job at Roskosmos. 2015, Neal Stephenson, Seveneves, London: The Borough Press, HarperCollins, published 2016, page 93
   Barcelona have had a habit of collapsing like a poorly constructed millefeuille in away legs over the past four years. But still, as Jordan Henderson hurled himself about in midfield like a labrador puppy chasing flies, as [Sadio] Mané pressed with sniping menace on the left, there was something valedictory in the air. 8 May 2019, Barney Ronay, “Liverpool’s waves of red fury and recklessness end in joyous bedlam”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2021-03-25
2. (Canada, US) 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”).

noun

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". 13 March 2020, Katherine Butler, “How will we report on the EU now that the UK is out?”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2020-04-16
2. (specifically, Canada, US) A speech given by a valedictorian at a commencement or graduation ceremony.