— salutational , adj. — salutationless , adj.
/sal'yeuh tay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of saluting.
2. something uttered, written, or done by way of saluting.
3. a word or phrase serving as the prefatory greeting in a letter or speech, as Dear Sir in a letter or Ladies and Gentlemen in a speech.
[ 1350-1400; ME salutation- (s. of salutatio ) greeting, equiv. to salutat ( us ) (ptp. of salutare to greet; see SALUTE, -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]