I. ˈgrēt, usu -ēd.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English greten, from Old English grētan; akin to Old High German gruozen to address, attack, Old Norse grœta to cause to weep; causative from the root of English greet (III)
transitive verb
1. : to address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes : salute or accost in a friendly or courteous manner : pay respects or compliments to personally, through another, or by writing or token : hail , welcome
my lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you — Shakespeare
2. obsolete : to offer felicitations on
3. : to meet or receive with a salutation, demonstration, or other evidence of approbation or occasionally of reproach
the candidate was greeted with cheers
greeting their former hero with catcalls and boos
4. : to appear or present itself to : be perceived by
offensive odors greet the nose
a surprising sight greeted her eyes
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to meet and give salutations
2. obsolete : meet , encounter
II. noun
( -s )
obsolete : greeting
III. ˈgrēt intransitive verb
( grat ˈgrat ; grut·ten ˈgrət ə n ; greeting ; greets )
Etymology: Middle English greten, from Old English grætan; akin to Old Norse grāta to weep, Gothic gretan, and perhaps to Latin hirrire to whimper, Sanskrit gharghara crackling, rattling
1. chiefly Scotland : weep , cry , lament
2. obsolete : to call in entreaty or anger
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle English gret, grete, from greten, v., to weep
now chiefly Scotland : weeping , sobbing
V. noun
Etymology: Middle English gret, grete — more at grit
dialect England : finely crushed earth or rock