salutation

What it means

1. countableuncountableA greeting, salute, or address; a hello.
   1. countableuncountableA conventional greeting that begins a letter, such as "Dear Sir".
2. countableuncountableThe act of greeting.

   Welcome, we²l'ku²m. a. Received with gladneſs, admitted willingly, grateful[…] Welcome, we²l'ku²m. interj. A form of ſalutation uſed to a new comer.

   1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 550

In a sentence

Welcome, we²l'ku²m. a. Received with gladneſs, admitted willingly, grateful[…] Welcome, we²l'ku²m. interj. A form of ſalutation uſed to a new comer.

1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 550

Where it comes from

1. Latinsalutatio“a greeting, a wishing health to”
2. Old Frenchsalutacion
3. Middle Englishsalutacioun
4. Englishsalutation

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”).