salutation

The story

1. Latin · derived fromsalutatio“a greeting, a wishing health to”
2. Old French · derived fromsalutacion
3. Middle English · inherited fromsalutacioun
4. English todaysalutation

From Middle English salutacioun, from Old French salutacion, from Latin salutatio (“a greeting, a wishing health to”), from saluto (“wish one’s health, greet”), from salus (“well-being”). Compare the Latin greeting salve (literally “be well”).